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Associations Between School Absence and School Violence by Sexual Identity.
Am J Prev Med. 2022 09; 63(3):384-391.AJ

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Sexual minority youth are disproportionately exposed to school violence compared with their heterosexual peers. It is unknown whether the associations between school absence and exposure to school violence vary by sexual identity.

METHODS

In 2021, data were combined from the 2015, 2017, and 2019 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys to produce nationally representative samples of U.S. high-school students who identified as gay/lesbian (n=1,061), identified as bisexual (n=3,210), were not sure of their sexual identity (n=1,696), or identified as heterosexual (n=35,819). Associations were examined between 3 school violence exposures (being threatened/injured with a weapon at school, being bullied at school, and being in a physical fight at school) and school absence due to safety concerns. In each sample, multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios adjusted for sex, race/ethnicity, grade, current substance use, being offered/sold drugs at school, feeling sad/hopeless, and suicidal thoughts. Adjusted prevalence ratios were considered statistically significant if 95% CIs did not include 1.0.

RESULTS

Exposure to school violence and school absence due to safety concerns were more prevalent among sexual minority students than among heterosexual students. Associations between exposure to school violence and school absence due to safety concerns were similar across sexual identity groups. For example, school absence was associated with being threatened/injured with a weapon at school among gay/lesbian (adjusted prevalence ratio=3.00), bisexual (adjusted prevalence ratio=3.66), those not sure (adjusted prevalence ratio=4.56), and heterosexual (adjusted prevalence ratio=3.75) students.

CONCLUSIONS

Associations between school absenteeism and school violence exist in each sexual identity group. Therefore, programs providing safe and supportive school environments may result in reduced absenteeism among all students.

Links

Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Lowry R
Office of the Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: rlowry@cdc.gov.
Kennedy K
Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Johns MM
Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Harper CR
Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Wilkins NJ
Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

MeSH

AdolescentBisexualityFemaleHeterosexualityHumansRisk-TakingSchoolsSexual BehaviorSexual and Gender MinoritiesViolence

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Language

eng

PubMed ID

35715302

Citation

Lowry, Richard, et al. "Associations Between School Absence and School Violence By Sexual Identity." American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 63, no. 3, 2022, pp. 384-391.
Lowry R, Kennedy K, Johns MM, et al. Associations Between School Absence and School Violence by Sexual Identity. Am J Prev Med. 2022;63(3):384-391.
Lowry, R., Kennedy, K., Johns, M. M., Harper, C. R., & Wilkins, N. J. (2022). Associations Between School Absence and School Violence by Sexual Identity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 63(3), 384-391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.03.026
Lowry R, et al. Associations Between School Absence and School Violence By Sexual Identity. Am J Prev Med. 2022;63(3):384-391. PubMed PMID: 35715302.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Associations Between School Absence and School Violence by Sexual Identity. AU - Lowry,Richard, AU - Kennedy,Katrina, AU - Johns,Michelle M, AU - Harper,Christopher R, AU - Wilkins,Natalie J, Y1 - 2022/06/14/ PY - 2021/11/15/received PY - 2022/03/23/revised PY - 2022/03/25/accepted PY - 2022/6/18/pubmed PY - 2022/8/24/medline PY - 2022/6/17/entrez SP - 384 EP - 391 JF - American journal of preventive medicine JO - Am J Prev Med VL - 63 IS - 3 N2 - INTRODUCTION: Sexual minority youth are disproportionately exposed to school violence compared with their heterosexual peers. It is unknown whether the associations between school absence and exposure to school violence vary by sexual identity. METHODS: In 2021, data were combined from the 2015, 2017, and 2019 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys to produce nationally representative samples of U.S. high-school students who identified as gay/lesbian (n=1,061), identified as bisexual (n=3,210), were not sure of their sexual identity (n=1,696), or identified as heterosexual (n=35,819). Associations were examined between 3 school violence exposures (being threatened/injured with a weapon at school, being bullied at school, and being in a physical fight at school) and school absence due to safety concerns. In each sample, multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios adjusted for sex, race/ethnicity, grade, current substance use, being offered/sold drugs at school, feeling sad/hopeless, and suicidal thoughts. Adjusted prevalence ratios were considered statistically significant if 95% CIs did not include 1.0. RESULTS: Exposure to school violence and school absence due to safety concerns were more prevalent among sexual minority students than among heterosexual students. Associations between exposure to school violence and school absence due to safety concerns were similar across sexual identity groups. For example, school absence was associated with being threatened/injured with a weapon at school among gay/lesbian (adjusted prevalence ratio=3.00), bisexual (adjusted prevalence ratio=3.66), those not sure (adjusted prevalence ratio=4.56), and heterosexual (adjusted prevalence ratio=3.75) students. CONCLUSIONS: Associations between school absenteeism and school violence exist in each sexual identity group. Therefore, programs providing safe and supportive school environments may result in reduced absenteeism among all students. SN - 1873-2607 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/35715302/Associations_Between_School_Absence_and_School_Violence_by_Sexual_Identity_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -