Bisexual Youth: Negative Health Outcomes in the United States

Authors

Ashley Dapore, DePauw University
Naima Shifa, DePauw UniversityFollow

Files

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Fall 10-2-2019

Abstract

Research over the past fifty years has suggested that although many legal and social changes have occurred in favor of LGBTQ individuals, members of this community still experience unfavorable mental health outcomes more frequently than their straight peers. Especially for bisexual teenagers, their social environment and response to risk behavior, including suicidal thoughts, is alarming in many states. An unwelcoming or unaccepting social and political environment surrounding them as they age may have a direct negative impact on their physical safety and mental health in victimization experiences such as bullying and the development of depression. We analyzed the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from high school students in twenty-four states to determine the rates of victimization of each sexual minority group. In seven of nine victimization experiences, bisexual youth had the highest prevalence of negative outcomes. Multiple Decision-Making Criteria was used to create a ranking of the best and worst states for positive outcomes for bisexual youth.

Funding and Acknowledgements

Funding: Science Research Fellows Program

Recommended Citation

Dapore, Ashley and Shifa, Naima, "Bisexual Youth: Negative Health Outcomes in the United States" (2019). Annual Student Research Poster Session. 32.
https://scholarship.depauw.edu/srfposters/32