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Heterosexist Bullying Victimization and Perpetration and Substance Use Among Heterosexual Adolescents

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Abstract

Background

Although heterosexist bullying mainly affects sexual minority adolescents, heterosexual adolescents may also be targets. Research is needed to understand the impact of heterosexist bullying victimization on heterosexual adolescents’ behavioral health. Moreover, there is a dearth of research examining the negative consequences of perpetrating heterosexist bullying among heterosexual adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between heterosexist bullying victimization and perpetration and substance use in a racially diverse sample of heterosexual adolescents.

Methods

A probability sample of middle and high school heterosexual students (N = 2,337; aged 11–19; 52.7% female; 35.9% Black or African American and 31.9% White) using random cluster methods was obtained from a southeastern US school district. Multiple logistic regression models were used to test the relationships between experiencing and perpetrating heterosexist bullying and substance use while accounting for sociodemographics.

Results

Of the participants, 7.1% reported heterosexist bullying victimization and 7.8% reported perpetration of heterosexist bullying. Of those engaging in heterosexist bullying, 29.5% also experienced it as a victim. Perpetrating heterosexist bullying was associated with greater odds of recent and lifetime alcohol, cigarette, e-cigarette, cannabis, and prescription drug use. Heterosexist bullying victimization was only associated with recent and lifetime cigarette use and lifetime e-cigarette use.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate the negative correlates of heterosexist bullying victimization and perpetration on heterosexual adolescents’ substance use. The findings underscore the need to address sexual stigma, such as heterosexist bullying, among not only adolescents experiencing it but also its perpetrators to help reduce substance use among all adolescents.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K08AA025011; PI: Mereish). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lavender Lab, Department of Health Studies, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA

    Ethan H. Mereish

  2. Department of Psychology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA

    Diana J. Cox

  3. Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Jeremy T. Goldbach

Authors
  1. Ethan H. Mereish
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  2. Diana J. Cox
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  3. Jeremy T. Goldbach
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Correspondence to Ethan H. Mereish.

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Ethics Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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A passive parental consent was sent to parents that offered an overview of the study purpose and indicated they could contact the teacher or other school representative should they prefer their child not to participate. Participants aged 18 or older provided consent prior to participating in the study.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Mereish, E.H., Cox, D.J. & Goldbach, J.T. Heterosexist Bullying Victimization and Perpetration and Substance Use Among Heterosexual Adolescents. Int.J. Behav. Med. 30, 431–437 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-022-10109-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-022-10109-2

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