ERIC Number: EJ1149500
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1938-2243
EISSN: N/A
School Belonging, School Victimization, and the Mental Health of LGBT Young Adults: Implications for School Psychologists
Heck, Nicholas C.; Lindquist, Lauri M.; Machek, Greg R.; Cochran, Bryan N.
School Psychology Forum, v8 n1 p28-37 Spr 2014
This study investigates the mediating role of school victimization in the relationship between lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) young adults' feelings of high school belonging and current mental health (both depression and general psychological distress) outcomes. A total of 145 LGBT young adults were recruited from college LGBT student organizations to complete an online survey that assessed high school experiences and mental health outcomes. Bootstrapping analyses were used to test for mediation. Results indicate that school victimization mediates the relationship between high school belonging and depressive symptoms and feelings of general psychological distress in young adulthood. The results suggest that school victimization is a factor that could explain why LGBT youth report lower levels of school belonging and higher levels of depression and psychological distress, relative to heterosexual youth. Implications as they relate to school psychologists are discussed and recommendations for improving the school climate for LGBT youth are provided.
Descriptors: Victims, Bullying, Homosexuality, Sexual Orientation, Sexual Identity, At Risk Students, Student School Relationship, Mental Health, School Psychologists, College Students, Online Surveys, High School Students, Depression (Psychology), Measures (Individuals), Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Analysis
National Association of School Psychologists. 4340 East West Highway Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel: 301-657-0270; Fax: 301-657-0275; e-mail: publications@naspweb.org; Web site: http://www.nasponline.org/publications/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: Counselors
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Beck Depression Inventory; Brief Symptom Inventory
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A