Mereish Ethan H, Cox Diana J, Goldbach Jeremy T
Lavender Lab, Department of Health Studies, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA.
Department of Psychology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA.
Int J Behav Med. 2023 Jun;30(3):431-437. doi: 10.1007/s12529-022-10109-2. Epub 2022 Jun 13.
Although heterosexist bullying mainly affects sexual minority adolescents, heterosexual adolescents may also be targets. Research is needed to understand the impact of heterosexist bullying victimization on heterosexual adolescents' behavioral health. Moreover, there is a dearth of research examining the negative consequences of perpetrating heterosexist bullying among heterosexual adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between heterosexist bullying victimization and perpetration and substance use in a racially diverse sample of heterosexual adolescents.
A probability sample of middle and high school heterosexual students (N = 2,337; aged 11-19; 52.7% female; 35.9% Black or African American and 31.9% White) using random cluster methods was obtained from a southeastern US school district. Multiple logistic regression models were used to test the relationships between experiencing and perpetrating heterosexist bullying and substance use while accounting for sociodemographics.
Of the participants, 7.1% reported heterosexist bullying victimization and 7.8% reported perpetration of heterosexist bullying. Of those engaging in heterosexist bullying, 29.5% also experienced it as a victim. Perpetrating heterosexist bullying was associated with greater odds of recent and lifetime alcohol, cigarette, e-cigarette, cannabis, and prescription drug use. Heterosexist bullying victimization was only associated with recent and lifetime cigarette use and lifetime e-cigarette use.
The results demonstrate the negative correlates of heterosexist bullying victimization and perpetration on heterosexual adolescents' substance use. The findings underscore the need to address sexual stigma, such as heterosexist bullying, among not only adolescents experiencing it but also its perpetrators to help reduce substance use among all adolescents.
尽管异性恋歧视霸凌主要影响性少数青少年，但异性恋青少年也可能成为目标。需要开展研究以了解异性恋歧视霸凌受害经历对异性恋青少年行为健康的影响。此外，缺乏对异性恋青少年实施异性恋歧视霸凌的负面后果的研究。本研究的目的是在一个种族多样的异性恋青少年样本中，检验异性恋歧视霸凌受害经历与实施行为以及物质使用之间的关联。
采用随机整群抽样方法，从美国东南部一个学区抽取了初中和高中异性恋学生的概率样本（N = 2337；年龄11 - 19岁；52.7%为女性；35.9%为黑人或非裔美国人，31.9%为白人）。使用多元逻辑回归模型来检验经历和实施异性恋歧视霸凌与物质使用之间的关系，同时考虑社会人口统计学因素。
在参与者中，7.1%报告有异性恋歧视霸凌受害经历，7.8%报告实施过异性恋歧视霸凌。在实施异性恋歧视霸凌的人中，29.5%自己也曾是受害者。实施异性恋歧视霸凌与近期及终生酒精、香烟、电子烟、大麻和处方药使用的几率增加有关。异性恋歧视霸凌受害经历仅与近期及终生香烟使用和终生电子烟使用有关。
研究结果表明异性恋歧视霸凌受害经历和实施行为与异性恋青少年的物质使用存在负相关。研究结果强调，不仅要解决遭受异性恋歧视霸凌的青少年的性污名问题，也要解决其实施者的问题，以帮助减少所有青少年的物质使用。
