TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring Bias-Based Bullying and Intersecting Social Positions as Correlates of Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents
AU - Lawrence, Samantha E.
AU - Gower, Amy L.
AU - Eadeh, Hana May
AU - Cardona-Correa, Chris
AU - Thomas, De'Shay
AU - Suresh, Malavika
AU - del Río-González, Ana María
AU - Eisenberg, Marla E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
PY - 2023/12/1
Y1 - 2023/12/1
N2 - Purpose: The current study extends the limited body of intersectional research on adolescents’ sexual health by examining experiences of bias-based bullying and multiple intersecting social positions associated with engagement in sexual risk behaviors. Methods: Participants were 14,968 sexually active 9th and 11th grade students surveyed as part of the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (15% lesbian/gay/bisexual/queer/pansexual/questioning [LGBQ] and/or transgender/ gender diverse [TGD] or gender questioning). Exhaustive Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detection analysis was used to identify experiences (i.e., bias-based bullying victimization) and intersecting social positions (i.e., sexual orientation identity; gender identity/modality; race/ethnicity; physical disabilities/chronic illness; mental health/behavioral/emotional problems) associated with the highest prevalence of three sexual risk behaviors. Results: Overall, 18% of adolescents reported 3+ sex partners in the last year, 14% reported drug/alcohol use before last sex, and 36% reported not discussing protection from sexually transmitted infections with new sexual partners. Adolescents with 2+ marginalized social positions, some of whom also experienced bias-based bullying, were part of 53% of the highest prevalence risk groups. For example, 42% of Multiracial or Latina/x/o gender questioning adolescents who identified as LGBQ reported 3+ sex partners in the last year—twice the sample average. Adolescents who were Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Latina/x/o, Multiracial, TGD, or gender questioning were in the highest prevalence nodes across all outcomes. Conclusion: Adolescents with multiple marginalized social positions and who experience bias-based bullying engage in high-risk sexual behaviors at higher-than-average rates. Findings underscore the importance of addressing intersecting experiences of stigma to reduce high-risk sex behaviors and promote health equity among adolescents.
AB - Purpose: The current study extends the limited body of intersectional research on adolescents’ sexual health by examining experiences of bias-based bullying and multiple intersecting social positions associated with engagement in sexual risk behaviors. Methods: Participants were 14,968 sexually active 9th and 11th grade students surveyed as part of the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (15% lesbian/gay/bisexual/queer/pansexual/questioning [LGBQ] and/or transgender/ gender diverse [TGD] or gender questioning). Exhaustive Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detection analysis was used to identify experiences (i.e., bias-based bullying victimization) and intersecting social positions (i.e., sexual orientation identity; gender identity/modality; race/ethnicity; physical disabilities/chronic illness; mental health/behavioral/emotional problems) associated with the highest prevalence of three sexual risk behaviors. Results: Overall, 18% of adolescents reported 3+ sex partners in the last year, 14% reported drug/alcohol use before last sex, and 36% reported not discussing protection from sexually transmitted infections with new sexual partners. Adolescents with 2+ marginalized social positions, some of whom also experienced bias-based bullying, were part of 53% of the highest prevalence risk groups. For example, 42% of Multiracial or Latina/x/o gender questioning adolescents who identified as LGBQ reported 3+ sex partners in the last year—twice the sample average. Adolescents who were Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Latina/x/o, Multiracial, TGD, or gender questioning were in the highest prevalence nodes across all outcomes. Conclusion: Adolescents with multiple marginalized social positions and who experience bias-based bullying engage in high-risk sexual behaviors at higher-than-average rates. Findings underscore the importance of addressing intersecting experiences of stigma to reduce high-risk sex behaviors and promote health equity among adolescents.
KW - disability
KW - intersectionality
KW - sexual orientation and gender diversity
KW - sexual risk behaviors
KW - stigma
KW - youth of color
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85179004782&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85179004782&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/lgbt.2022.0301
DO - 10.1089/lgbt.2022.0301
M3 - Article
C2 - 37358630
AN - SCOPUS:85179004782
SN - 2325-8292
VL - 10
SP - 608
EP - 616
JO - LGBT Health
JF - LGBT Health
IS - 8
ER -
