Understanding Multi-Victimization: Identifying Socioecological Supports Among Adolescents

Transgender and gender-diverse adolescents (TGDA) experience multiple victimization types (i.e., multi-victimization) more often than their cisgender peers. While greater socioecological supports are associated with reduced victimization, their role in protecting TGDA against multi-victimization is underexplored.

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of health risk behavior survey data from students (N = 4207) across 13 high schools in a mid-sized U.S. city. We compared victimization rates and socioecological support levels (i.e., parental monitoring, perceived social support, food and housing security) and associations between socioecological support and victimization, accounting for between-school differences. We included two-way interactions between gender and socioecological supports.

TGDA reported more frequent multi-victimization and lower socioecological support than cisgender adolescents. Across all groups, greater socioecological support was associated with experiencing fewer victimization types. Food security was more protective for cisgender girls than cisgender boys.

Enhancing socioecological support may reduce multi-victimization for all youth, with TGDA having the greatest need. Schools' advocacy and innovative efforts to bolster socioecological support are critical to TGDA wellbeing.

Modifiable socioecological supports may reduce adolescent multi-victimization. TGDA have lower support rates and higher multi-victimization rates, suggesting the need for tailored interventions.