Victimization of Sexual Minority Latinx Youth: Results From a National Survey

• NCJ Number: 307538
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 37 Issue: (23–24) Dated: 2022 Pages: NP23513–NP23526
• Author(s): Chiara Sabina; Candence Wills; Gabriel Robles; Carlos A. Cuevas
• Date Published: 2022
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2009-W9-BX-0001
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: Dating Violence Among Latino Adolescents(DAVILA)

Annotation

This paper details results of the Dating Violence among Latino Adolescents (DAVILA) study of national sample of Latinx youth, which inquired about a range of victimizations in the past year through a bilingual phone survey.

Abstract

The Dating Violence among Latino Adolescents (DAVILA) study employed a national sample of Latinx youth and queried a range of victimizations in the past year, via a bilingual phone survey. Results underscore that sexual minority (SM) youth experience greater adverse outcomes than heterosexual (HET) youth. However, it is not SM status that directly relates to victimization, but the negative effects of psychological distress and low social support, that account for the higher number of victimizations of SM Latinx youth. These factors are closely linked to the stigmatization that SM youth face. As such efforts to destigmatize SM identities are needed to address the health and safety of SM Latinx youth. Limited previous research has explored the intersectional stress and trauma sexual minority (SM) Latinx youth experience generated by being part of at least two minoritized groups. In this study, of 1525 12–18-year-old youth interviewed for DAVILA, 123 either identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual or had at least one same-sex dating partner. Measures included the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, the Conflict Tactics Scale Short Form, Brief Symptom Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Rates of dating violence, psychological dating violence, sexual victimization, and polyvictimization were significantly higher among SM youth, compared to HET youth. Victimized SM youth had significantly more depression, anxiety, and hostility than victimized HET youth. Sexual minority youth also reported less social support from family and significant others. A sequential regression showed psychosocial factors of mental health functioning and social support were associated with the number of victimizations above and beyond demographic factors, including SM status. (Published Abstract Provided)