Divergent school bullying experiences and mental health: The mediating role of self-stigma among Chinese LGB adolescents and young adults.

BACKGROUND

Bullying significantly impacts the mental health of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents and young adults (AYAs), yet research on the specific effects of different types of bullying and the role of self-stigma is limited in China.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the relationships between school bullying victimization and mental health among LGB AYAs, focusing on the mediating role of self-stigma across cognition, affect, and behavior domains.

PARTICIPANTS AND

SETTING

Online survey data were collected from 621 self-identified cisgender LGB AYAs in China (M[age] = 19.58; SD = 3.19) using convenience and snowball sampling through personal referrals and online private groups.

METHODS

The Bullying and Cyberbullying Scale-Adolescents (BCS-A) assessed school bullying experiences. The Self-Stigma Scale-Short Form (SSS-S) and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 short version (DASS-21) measured stigma, depression, anxiety, and stress. Mediation analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Both physical and verbal bullying were directly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Relational bullying was significantly associated with stress but not depression and anxiety. Cyberbullying did not show direct or indirect associations with these mental health outcomes. Indirect paths indicated that both physical and relational bullying affected mental health through self-stigmatizing behaviors, with cognitive and affective domains showing no mediation effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Differentiating self-stigma domains reveals their unique mediating roles between bullying victimization and adverse mental health among LGB AYAs in China. Findings highlight the need to improve school policies/regulations and foster inclusive environments to mitigate these adverse effects. Understanding shared risks across various types of bullying can also guide effective prevention and intervention strategies.