Date of Publication

2025

Faculty Mentor

Elizabeth Woods, PhD

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective: To evaluate how emotional controlling behavior, adolescent dating violence (ADV), and bullying affect feelings of anxiety among LGBTQ+ adolescents compared to heterosexual-cisgender adolescents in Vermont.

Methods: Using the 2021 Vermont YRBS, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted. Variables included gender/sexual orientation, anxiety, emotional controlling behavior, physical dating violence, and bullying. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and stratified binomial logistic regression assessed the relationship between exposures and anxiety, adjusting for demographic covariates. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were compared between groups.

Results: 9007 students who dated during the survey period were analyzed. Among LGBTQ+ youth, 68.7% reported anxiety, compared to 30.2% of heterosexual-cisgender youth. Emotional controlling behavior and bullying significantly increased anxiety odds for LGBTQ+ and heterosexual-cisgender youth. Physical dating violence significantly increased anxiety odds for heterosexual-cisgender youth but not for LGBTQ+ youth.

Conclusions: The associations between bullying, emotional controlling behavior, and anxiety were similar between LGBTQ+ and heterosexual-cisgender youth, though the association appeared stronger for heterosexual-cisgender youth.

Policy Implications: These findings emphasize the need for targeted mental health interventions addressing bullying and emotional abuse for LGBTQ+ and heterosexual-cisgender adolescents.

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

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