The Effects of Bullying and Peer Victimization on Sexual-Minority and Heterosexual Youths: A Quantitative Meta-Analysis of the Literature

Abstract

This study is a comprehensive, quantitative synthesis of the literature examining the effects of homophobic bullying on both sexual-minority and heterosexual youths’ psychological outcomes. The final analysis included 16 published and 2 unpublished studies from around the world, totaling 81 effect sizes. Various study characteristics were coded to assess moderator effects, but only age of youth was found to play a significant role between bullying and detrimental outcomes for youths. Results demonstrated that sexual-minority youths experience significantly more bullying and victimization than do heterosexual peers and that these hostile experiences contribute to a number of negative outcomes for sexual-minority youths.