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Abstract

Research on lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) students has been gaining traction in the fields of criminology, victimology, and education, but available data lag behind the demand for studies on this underserved population. While LGBT students are often perceived to face greater risk of victimization and subsequent health problems than their counterparts, little research has investigated the mechanisms behind problematic outcomes for LGBT students. This research uses data from a Southeastern University to examine sexual assault among LGBT students and their experiences with alcohol-related problems. The results show that LGBT youth are at an increased risk for sexual victimization but that LGBT status does not have a direct effect on alcohol-related problems.

Key Take Away Points

  • Programs focusing on LGBT students must take into account their elevated risk of sexual victimization
  • Programs aimed at helping problematic drinkers should acknowledge the role of sexual victimization - especially among the LGBT community
  • Future research is needed to untangle the association between LGBT status, victimization, and health-related outcomes

Author Biography

Shanna Felix holds a B.S. in Psychology from Georgia Southern University and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Social Science from Georgia Southern. She has published in Criminal Justice Studies and presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference and the Southern Criminal Justice Association conference. Her current research interests include victimization, offending, and gender issues. Justin T. Hoyle holds a B.S. in Justice Studies from Georgia Southern University and is currently a Master’ student in criminal justice. His research experience includes predictors of substance use and evaluation of police policy and practices. His other research interests include spatial and environmental correlates of crime and delinquency. Chad Posick is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Georgia Southern University. His major research interests include the overlap between victimization and offending, contextual variation in victimization and offending, and biosocial criminology. His recent research has appeared in the Journal of Adolescent Health, Journal of Criminal Justice, and Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Bryan Lee Miller is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Georgia Southern University. His research has evaluated drug policy, drug use and abuse, drug panics, and ex-offender reintegration. He is an author or co-author of over 35 peer-reviewed publications in criminal justice, criminology, medical, and drug journals, as well as the book Emerging Trends in Drug Use and Distribution (2014, Springer). John Stogner is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has authored Emerging Trends in Drug Use and Distribution and The Nature and Theory of Crime in addition to over 40 peer-reviewed studies. His work typically explores issues related to substance use, emerging drugs, peer influence, and the interplay of health and crime.

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