Adolescent Bullying Victimization at Secondary School and Adult Suicidality and Depressive Symptoms Among 2152 Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in South Korea

Jooyoung Park, Hyemin Lee, Bokyoung Choi, Ji Hwan Kim, Jaehong Yoon, Horim Yi, Sungsub Choo, Seung Sup Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study examined the association between adolescent bullying victimization (ABV) and adult mental health among lesbian,gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals in South Korea (hereafter Korea). We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 2152 KoreanLGB adults in 2016. Based on experiences of and reasons for ABV, participants were categorized into four groups: “never bullied,” “bullied due to sexual orientation and gender expression (SOGE),” “bullied due to other reasons,” and “bullied, reason unspecified.” Compared with participants who have never been bullied during adolescence, those who have been “bullied due to SOGE” were 1.56 times, 1.53 times, and 3.59 times more likely to report depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts, respectively. Statistically significant associations with all three mental health indicators were also observed among those who have been “bullied due to other reasons”: depressive symptoms (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.72), suicidal ideation (aPR = 1.48), and suicide attempts (aPR = 3.15). This study suggests that ABV may increasedepressive symptoms and suicidality in adulthood among LGB individuals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)338-345
Number of pages8
JournalAsia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
Volume34
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022 May

Keywords

  • LGB
  • South Korea
  • bullying victimization
  • depressive symptoms
  • sexual minority
  • suicidality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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