Recollections of Bullying at School and Their Long-Term Implications for Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between experiences of bullying at school, adult mental health status, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress among a sample of 119 UK residents who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Participants completed a series of questionnaires that focused upon school experiences, suicide ideation at school, sexual history, relationship status and negative affect, recent positive and negative life-events, internalized homophobia, and symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress. The results suggested that posttraumatic stress was a potential issue for 17% of participants who also scored significantly higher for depression, and reported having had more casual sexual partners than their peers. However, those who were found to exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress were also more accepting of their sexual orientation. A small number of participants used prescription or nonprescription drugs, or alcohol to help them cope with memories of bullying. It is suggested that posttraumatic stress may be a feature of the adult lives of men and women who experienced frequent and prolonged bullying at school as a result of their actual or perceived sexual orientation.

The relationship between difficulties in psychological adjustment in young adulthood and exposure to bullying behaviour in childhood and adolescence

“…The results of this study support the results of some previous studies where it was determined that exposure to bullying during childhood and adolescence may have an influence on the development of long-term consequences on mental health, including the increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and difficulties in interpersonal relationships (22,54,60,63,74). The identified psychological difficulties are similar or identical to the symptoms identified in children who are currently exposed to bullying (33,73,(81)(82).…”

“…According to the results of some studies (74) there is evidence that suggests that there is a possible connection between bullying in schools and post-traumatic stress disorder. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to investigate the long-term traumatic consequences of exposure to bullying, and also a wide range of traumatic symptoms.…”

Health Disparities Among Common Subcultural Identities of Young Gay Men: Physical, Mental, and Sexual Health

“…Along with other men who have sex with men (MSM), this population faces multiple health-related challenges, including disproportionately high rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs; Beyrer et al, 2012;Lyons, et al, 2012aLyons, et al, , 2012bThe Kirby Institute, 2012;Wolitski & Fenton, 2011). Gay men also have higher rates of tobacco (Rivers, 2004) and illicit drug use (Rivers, 2001;Willoughby, Lai, Doty, Mackey, & Malik, 2008). Use of methamphetamine and other "party drugs" are especially prevalent (Gonzales, Mooney, & Rawson, 2010;Halkitis, Palamar, & Mukherjee, 2007;Lyons, Pitts, & Grierson, 2013b).…”

Homofobia na escola: relatos de universitários sobre as piores experiências

“…No estudo de Birkett et al (2009) com 7.376 estudantes norte americanos, com o objetivo de examinar como os fatores contextuais da escola, tais como a vitimização homofóbica e o clima escolar negativo, impactam o bem estar de jovens lésbicas, gays ou bissexuais (LGB) no Ensino Médio, os autores encontraram que os estudantes LGB tinham maior probabilidade de relatarem altos níveis de bullying homofóbico e impactos negativos, como uso de drogas, depressão e ideias suicidas. Rivers (2004) realizou um estudo retrospectivo em que pesquisou a vivência de bullying homofóbi-co numa amostra de 119 jovens ingleses e obteve como resultado principal que todos relataram ter sido vitimizados, sendo que a idade média para início do bullying foi 10,5 anos e o tempo médio de duração do evento foi cinco anos. O Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (INEP, 2010) realizou um estudo sobre diversidade na escola em 500 escolas públicas de todo o Brasil, contando com uma amostra fi nal de questionários respondidos por 501 diretores, 1.005 professores, 1.004 funcionários, 15.087 alunos e 1.002 pais/mães de alunos.…”

“…Dentre os efeitos do bullying homofóbico listados na literatura destacam-se: depressão (Birkett et al, 2009;Kosciw, Greytak, Bartkiewicz, Boesen, & Palmer, 2012;Russell, 2011;Russell, Ryan, Toomey, Diaz, & Sanchez, 2011;Taylor et al, 2011); Transtorno de Estresse Pós-traumático (TEPT; Rivers, 2004); ideação suicida e/ou tentativa de suicídio (Birkett et al, 2009;Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002;Faulkner & Cranston, 1998;Hershberger & D'Augelli, 1995;Rivers, 2001Rivers, , 2004Russell, 2011;Russell et al, 2011); alcoolismo e abuso de substância (Birkett et al, 2009;Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002;Faulkner & Cranston, 1998;Rivers, 2004;Russell, 2011); transtornos alimentares (Rivers, 2004); práticas sexuais não seguras e/ ou evitação de estratégias de proteção, no que se refere a sexo, tais como uso de preservativos (Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002;Faulkner & Cranston, 1998;Rivers, 2004); desempenho escolar empobrecido (Prado & Junqueira, 2011); faltas à escola (Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002;Faulkner & Cranston, 1998;Kosciw et al, 2012;Taylor et al, 2011); e comportamento violento (Faulkner & Cranston, 1998;Rivers, 2004).…”