Comparing the rates of early childhood victimization across sexual orientations: Heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and mostly heterosexual.

dc.contributor.authorZou, C., & Andersen, J. P.
dc.date.accessioned2015-10-27T16:37:14Z
dc.date.available2015-10-27T16:37:14Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.description.abstractFew studies have examined the rates of childhood victimization among individuals who identify as “mostly heterosexual” (MH) in comparison to other sexual orientation groups. For the present study, we utilized a more comprehensive assessment of adverse childhood experiences to extend prior literature by examining if MH individuals’ experience of victimization more closely mirrors that of sexual minority individuals or heterosexuals. Heterosexual (n = 422) and LGB (n = 561) and MH (n = 120) participants were recruited online. Respondents completed surveys about their adverse childhood experiences, both maltreatment by adults (e.g., childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and childhood household dysfunction) and peer victimization (i.e., verbal and physical bullying). Specifically, MH individuals were 1.47 times more likely than heterosexuals to report childhood victimization experiences perpetrated by adults. These elevated rates were similar to LGB individuals. Results suggest that rates of victimization of MH groups are more similar to the rates found among LGBs, and are significantly higher than heterosexual groups. Our results support prior research that indicates that an MH identity falls within the umbrella of a sexual minority, yet little is known about unique challenges that this group may face in comparison to other sexual minority groups.en_US
dc.identifier.citationZou, C., & Andersen, J. P. (2015). Comparing the rates of early childhood victimization across sexual orientations: heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and mostly heterosexual. PLoS one, 10(10), e0139198.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4596800/pdf/pone.0139198.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/2596
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherPLoS Oneen_US
dc.subjectchildhood victimizationen_US
dc.subjectsexual identificationen_US
dc.subjectratesen_US
dc.titleComparing the rates of early childhood victimization across sexual orientations: Heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and mostly heterosexual.en_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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