Study Shows Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual Youth Experience Bullying More Often than Peers

A study to be published in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health surveyed 28 other studies from throughout The US and Canada and found that gay, lesbian and bisexual high school students are more likely to experience sexual abuse, parental physical abuse and bullying from peers than other youth.

The study was authored by professors from The University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health. Mark Friedman, a professor of behavioral and community health sciences says these types of abuse are one of the driving forces behind mental health problems, substance abuse and risky behaviors for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth. The abuse is a result of their self-identifying their sexual orientation.

Friedman said they compared the results of the studies done in the 1990's to studies done in the 2000's expecting that the abuse would have diminished and were surprised to find out that although societal attitudes have changed, the rates of bullying of youth have not.

The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.