(PS8-32) Anxiety, Depression, and Peer Victimization in Bisexual Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT) youth report elevated rates of anxiety, depression,  and peer victimization. These mental health outcomes consistently co-occur with juvenile justice system involvement.  LGBT youth are estimated to comprise between 13-15% of overall youth in the juvenile justice system with LGB adolescent girls disproportionately represented. Although consistent with the minority stress framework, further research is needed to identify and understand associations of mental health outcomes among LGBT youth involved in the juvenile justice system. This study examines experiences of depression, anxiety, and peer victimization, among a cohort of youth ages 11 to 17 residing in two juvenile detention facilities in the Midwest. Specifically, we investigated if these mental health outcomes differed by sexual orientation. Participants included 187 youth (62.4% White, 35.4% Black, 2.2% American Indian/Alaskan Native; 88.2% Not Hispanic or Latinx, 11.8% Hispanic or Latinx; 72.2%  cisgender male, 25.1% cisgender female, 1.6% transgender, 0% nonbinary, 0.5% other, 0.5% I’m not sure yet; 85.6% Straight/Heterosexual, 10.2% Bisexual, 1.1% Asexual, 0% Gay or Lesbian, 0% Queer, 2.1% I’m not sure yet, 1.1% I do not want to answer). A surprising 74% of bisexual youth identified as cisgender females, compared to 25% in the whole sample. Results indicated that bisexual youth reported more anxiety than straight youth (t(177) = -2.573, p < .01 Hedges g = .62), more depressive symptoms than straight youth (t(177) = -3.087, p < .01; Hedges g = .75), and more peer victimization than straight youth (t(177) = -4.617, p < .001; Hedges g = 1.12). These results indicate that bisexual youth, especially bisexual female youth, are overly represented in this detained sample. Further, bisexual youth in juvenile detention reported elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and peer victimization compared to straight youth, which is consistent with research in the general population. Bisexual youth may be a distinct group within LGBT youth that experience intersectional and compounding stress related to their sexual orientation. Future research should investigate the unique risk and experiences of bisexual youth involved in the juvenile justice system.