27 Aug Sexual Assaults More Common Against Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual High School Students
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Laura Kann
Laura Kann, Ph.D.
Chief of the School-Based Surveillance Branch
Division of Adolescent and School Health
CDC
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: CDC has been using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to collect data on the sexual identity of high school students at the state and local levels and on the prevalence of health risk behaviors among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students for many years. Starting with the 2015 YRBS cycle, we had enough support to add questions to the national YRBS to provide the first ever nationally representative look at health risk behaviors among these students.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: Gay, lesbian, and bisexual students experience substantially higher levels of physical and sexual violence and bullying than their heterosexual peers. For example, according to this first national study of high school students by sexual identity, 18 percent of gay, lesbian, and bisexual students had ever been forced to have sexual intercourse compared to 5 percent of heterosexual students. Further, 18 percent and 23 percent of gay, lesbian, and bisexual high school students experienced physical and sexual dating violence, respectively, compared to 8 percent and 9 percent, respectively, of their heterosexual peers.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: We hope that this study accelerates action to improve the health and well-being of the nearly 1.3 gay, lesbian, and bisexual high school students nationwide. Documenting the problem, as this report does, is critical, but only if it spurs action. All of us, including parents, schools, and communities can and must take action to address the heart breaking findings. While this report does not tell us why gay, lesbian, and bisexual students experience violence and other behaviors at such high rates, we know from other research that social isolation and lack of social support, poor parent-child relationships, and a history of violent victimization are shared risk factors for violence. Connectedness – to parents, peers, schools, and communities – is key to protecting the health of these adolescents. Students are more likely to thrive if they know they matter and are cared about by their parents, teachers, other adults, and friends.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: CDC will continue to collect data on the health risk behaviors of gay, lesbian, and bisexual students nationwide through the YRBS. In addition, CDC has worked to address serious gaps in mortality data for gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals by incorporating sexual orientation data into the National Violence Death Reporting System (NVDRS). Currently, NVDRS only pulls data in 32 states, so it’s critical this system is expanded to all 50 states and the District of Columbia in order to improve our understanding and prevent pathways to suicide and other forms of violent death. Further research is also needed to understand better how the dangerous intersection of risks experienced by gay, lesbian, and bisexual students result in such high levels of risk behaviors and to develop programs and policies tailored specifically to best meet their needs. Sites like My Little Pleasure can help younger women gain some confidence in themselves. However, more still needs to be done at schools to stop these people from being targeted!
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Last Updated on August 27, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD