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01-08-2018

School Practices to Foster LGBT-Supportive Climate: Associations with Adolescent Bullying Involvement

Authors: Amy L. Gower, Myriam Forster, Kari Gloppen, Abigail Z. Johnson, Marla E. Eisenberg, John E. Connett, Iris W. Borowsky

Published in: Prevention Science | Issue 6/2018

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth experience disproportionate rates of bullying compared to their heterosexual peers. Schools are well-positioned to address these disparities by creating supportive school climates for LGBT youth, but more research is needed to examine the variety of practices and professional development opportunities put in place to this end. The current study examines how school practices to create supportive LGBT student climate relate to student reports of bullying. Student-level data come from the 2013 Minnesota Student Survey, a state-wide survey of risk and protective factors. Ninth and eleventh grade students (N = 31,183) reported on frequency of physical and relational bullying victimization and perpetration and sexual orientation-based harassment. School administrators reported on six practices related to creating supportive LGBT school climate (N = 103 schools): having a point person for LGBT student issues, displaying sexual orientation-specific content, having a gay-straight alliance, discussing bullying based on sexual orientation, and providing professional development around LGBT inclusion and LGBT student issues. An index was created to indicate how many practices each school used (M = 2.45; SD = 1.76). Multilevel logistic regressions indicated that students attending schools with more supportive LGBT climates reported lower odds of relational bullying victimization, physical bullying perpetration, and sexual orientation-based harassment compared to students in schools with less supportive LGBT climates. Sexual orientation did not moderate these relations, indicating that LGBT-supportive practices may be protective for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation. Findings support school-wide efforts to create supportive climates for LGBQ youth as part of a larger bullying prevention strategy.

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Title: School Practices to Foster LGBT-Supportive Climate: Associations with Adolescent Bullying Involvement
Authors: Amy L. Gower
Myriam Forster
Kari Gloppen
Abigail Z. Johnson
Marla E. Eisenberg
John E. Connett
Iris W. Borowsky
Publication date: 01-08-2018
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Prevention Science / Issue 6/2018
Print ISSN: 1389-4986
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6695
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-017-0847-4

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

School Practices to Foster LGBT-Supportive Climate: Associations with Adolescent Bullying Involvement

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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