The Influence of Peer Victimization on Educational Outcomes for LGBTQ and Non-LGBTQ High School Students

Abstract

A total of 11,447 high school students were surveyed to test the relation between victimization and the educational outcomes of truancy, post–high school intentions, and grades for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) and non-LGBTQ students. LGBTQ students reported statistically higher truancy, lower grades, greater expectations not to finish high school, and lower expectations to attend a four-year college. Victimization partially mediated these differences between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ youth. These results highlight the role of victimization in partially accounting for academic disparities between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ youth.