Exploring the Impact of Bullying and Friendship on Mental Health Outcomes Among Transgender, Gender Diverse (TGD), and Cisgender Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual (LGB+) Youth

Prejudice and discrimination put 2SLGBTQ+ youth at greater risk of developing poor mental health outcomes. Yet there is heterogeneity within this group, notably a greater risk for poor mental health outcomes in trans and gender diverse (TGD) youth. The goal of this study was to determine if the relationship between bullying and mental health outcomes, and the potential protective influence of peer friendship, differed between cisgender lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB+) and TGD youth. Using data from the 12-year youth survey from All Our Families cohort (n = 221), we analyzed youth's responses on Behavior Assessment System for Children (depression and anxiety), Middle Years Development Instrument (happiness and friendship) and self-reports on bullying within the last year. Bullying was positively associated with anxiety and depression for TGD youth, and for the cisgender LGB+ group, bullying was associated with anxiety symptoms. Friendship buffered the association between bullying and anxiety symptoms for TGD youth. Our findings highlight the importance of examining LGB+ and TGD youth independently, given the heterogeneity found within the broad 2SLGBTQ+ group, as demonstrated by diverse mental health and bullying outcomes. It supports the potential positive influence of friendship on anxiety symptoms, particularly for TGD youth in early adolescence.