Improving School Environments for Preventing Sexual Violence Among LGBTQ+ Youth*

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Sch Health
• Personal Author:
  Adhia, Avanti ; Pugh, Dylan ; Lucas, Ruby ; Rogers, Megan ; Kelley, Jessi ; Bekemeier, Betty
• Description:
  BACKGROUND:
  
  Sexual violence (SV) is a serious public health concern, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth report higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This qualitative study aimed to understand LGBTQ+ students’ perspectives on how middle and high school environments can better prevent and address SV.
  
  METHODS:
  
  In partnership with a school-based LGBTQ+ support group in Washington State, we recruited 31 LGTBQ+ students ages 13–18 for virtual interviews (n = 24) and for providing text-based answers to interview questions (n = 7). We used inductive thematic analysis to analyze data and identify themes.
  
  RESULTS:
  
  To prevent and respond to SV, students highlighted schools having: (1) access to gender-neutral spaces; (2) LGBTQ+ competency training for staff; (3) enforcement of school policies (eg, SV, anti-bullying) and accountability; (4) LGBTQ+-competent mental health support; and (5) comprehensive sexual health education that addresses LGBTQ+ relationships and SV.
  
  IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY:
  
  Students expressed the need for changes in school physical and social environments to address SV among LGBTQ+ youth.
  
  CONCLUSIONS:
  
  Incorporating youth perspectives, particularly LGBTQ+ youth at high risk of SV, can help schools implement strategies that are supported by youth and thus potentially more sustainable and effective.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Bisexuality Female Homosexuality, Female Humans Sex Offenses Sexual And Gender Minorities Sexual Behavior Transgender Persons
• Keywords:
  LGBTQ+ Youth School Climate Sexual And Gender Minorities Sexual Violence
• Source:
  J Sch Health. 94(3):243-250
• Pubmed ID:
  37859302
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC11724704
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  U01 CE003210/CE/NCIPC CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U01CE003210/CC/CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  94
• Issue:
  3
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3682fdb730a4e79f6a11a6660738c17cc3f5e3bc62171a4951d938ea8ab0287d2da42cb3d558a73f36cbbb944f391d138282b332865f025b5923c3fa30ef3b9a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/175593/cdc_175593_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 87.92 KB ]