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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Research

Associations of nonconforming gender expression and gender identity with bullying victimization: an analysis of the 2017 youth risk behavior survey

Authors: Qiguo Lian, Ruili Li, Zhihao Liu, Xiaona Li, Qiru Su, Dongpeng Zheng

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Purpose

Although gender nonconformity (GNC) and transgender identity are both linked to bullying victimization, few studies have examined them with bullying victimization simultaneously. Using a sample of Youth Risk Behavior Survey, we investigated the associations of GNC and transgender identity with bullying victimization within the same study.

Methods

We analyzed data from the cross-sectional school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2017 (n = 25,378). The exposures were GNC and transgender identity. The main outcomes were traditional victimization, cyber victimization, and combined victimization. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Poisson regression models.

Results

There were 22.15% of high school students with GNC, and 1.61% identified themselves as transgender. GNC is associated with traditional (APR,1.45;95%CI, 1.21–1.73), cyber (APR,2.00; 95%CI, 1.66–2.40) and combined victimization (APR,1.61;95%CI, 1.42–1.83) respectively among assigned male at birth (AMAB) students only. Transgender male and female students are both at higher risk of bullying victimization for all the three outcomes than cisgender peers.

Conclusions

AMAB GNC and transgender identity are associated with a higher risk of bullying victimization. Providing support systems and celebrating gender diversity within and outside schools are important.
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Metadata
Title
Associations of nonconforming gender expression and gender identity with bullying victimization: an analysis of the 2017 youth risk behavior survey
Authors
Qiguo Lian
Ruili Li
Zhihao Liu
Xiaona Li
Qiru Su
Dongpeng Zheng
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13071-6

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