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Understanding Multi-Victimization: Identifying Socioecological Supports Among Adolescents
Emil K Smith1,2, Rachel E Gartner3, Paul R Sterzing4
1School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
The Journal of School Health
|June 24, 2026
Summary
Transgender and gender-diverse adolescents (TGDA) face more multi-victimization. Enhancing socioecological support, like food security and parental monitoring, can reduce victimization for all youth, especially TGDA.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Sociology of Victimization
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Transgender and gender-diverse adolescents (TGDA) experience higher rates of multi-victimization compared to cisgender peers.
- Socioecological supports are known to reduce victimization, but their specific protective role for TGDA against multi-victimization is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between socioecological supports and multi-victimization among adolescents.
- To examine if socioecological supports offer differential protection against multi-victimization for TGDA compared to cisgender adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of health risk behavior survey data from 4207 high school students.
- Comparison of victimization rates and socioecological support levels (parental monitoring, social support, food/housing security) between TGDA and cisgender adolescents.
- Statistical modeling to assess associations between socioecological support and victimization, accounting for school-level differences and gender interactions.
Main Results:
- TGDA reported significantly higher rates of multi-victimization and lower levels of socioecological support than cisgender adolescents.
- Increased socioecological support was associated with reduced multi-victimization across all student groups.
- Food security demonstrated a stronger protective effect for cisgender girls compared to cisgender boys.
Conclusions:
- Modifiable socioecological supports hold potential for reducing multi-victimization in adolescents.
- TGDA exhibit lower support levels and higher multi-victimization rates, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions.
- Schools play a crucial role in enhancing socioecological support to improve TGDA well-being.
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