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Sexual Violence Among U.S. High School Students: Differences by Sexual Identity, 2023
R Andrew Yockey1, Dale E Mantey2, Rachel Hoopsick3
1Department of Public Health, School of Applied Sciences, Oxford, Mississippi.
Purpose:
Sexual violence among youth remains a pressing public health issue in the United States, with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority (LGBQ+) youth disproportionately affected. This study utilizes nationally representative data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System to examine associations between sexual identity and three measures of sexual victimization among the US high school students.
Methods:
We analyzed data from n = 16,730 US high school students via the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Multivariable logistic regressions compared three measures of sexual victimization (i.e., lifetime forced sexual intercourse [FSI]; past 12 month any sexual violence; and past 12 month dating sexual violence) by sexual identity; categories were heterosexual (referent), gay/lesbian, bisexual, questioning, and other. We also stratified these analyses by sex.
Results:
Youth who identified as gay/lesbian (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 2.42), bisexual (aOR: 2.61), and other (aOR: 3.36) had significantly greater odds of reporting lifetime FSI relative to heterosexual youth. Similarly, youth who identified as bisexual (aOR: 2.00), questioning (sexuality) (aOR: 1.87), and other (aOR: 1.57) had significantly greater odds of reporting experiencing sexual violence in the past 12 months relative to heterosexual youth. In addition, youth who identified as bisexual (aOR: 1.94) and questioning (aOR: 1.95) had significantly greater odds of reporting dating sexual violence in the past 12 months relative to heterosexual youth. These relationships were significantly modified by sex; the disparities in lifetime FSI and past 12 month sexual violence by sexual identity were substantially greater among male students compared to female students.
Discussion:
LGBQ + youth are at increased risk for sexual violence, compared to their non-LGBQ + counterparts.
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