Inclusive School Climate as a Protective Factor for LGBTQ Youth

Abstract

Bullying continues to be a significant public health issue disproportionally impacting LGBTQ youth. Bullying is one of many factors contributing to this population’s increased risk for several adverse physical, social, psychological, and academic outcomes. LGBTQ inclusive school practices have been identified as a potential point of prevention and intervention, leading to decreased victimization and increased reporting behaviors. While extant literature has illustrated the impact of individual school policies and practices, more work is needed to understand the cumulative effect of an LGBTQ inclusive school climate. The current study explored the impact of an LGBTQ inclusive school climate, as defined as the presence of an LGBTQ student organization and inclusive dress code, anti-discrimination policy, and anti-bullying policy, on student victimization experiences, reporting behaviors, and adjustment. The study investigated the climates of nine individual schools with a total of 2,571 participants. Results indicated that LGBTQ youth continue to report high levels of victimization and that victimization experiences are associated with poorer adjustment. An LGBTQ inclusive school climate, however, was not found to moderate the relationship between LGBTQ youth victimization and negative adjustment. Total school climate score was found, however, to predict homo/transprejudice attitudes, with more inclusive school climates associated with less prejudice attitudes. This study provided invaluable insights into the experiences of LGBTQ youth and the role of school climate. Future directions for further clarification of the elements of an inclusive school climate to support LGBTQ youth were also provided.