505 - Sexual Violence Associated With Sexual Identity and Gender Among California Adults Reporting Their Experiences as Adolescents and Young Adults

Poster Number: 505
Publication Number: 505.100

David J. Inwards-Breland, Rady Children's Hosptial/UCSD, San Diego, CA, United States; Nicole E. Johns, Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Anita Raj, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States

Background: Disproportionate levels of violence exist in LGBQA+ communities, often starting in adolescence and young adulthood (AYA), but little research exists on the range of sexual violence (SV) experiences.

Objective: Our study offers analysis of retrospective reports on SV in AYA with data from a state-representative online survey of California adults. We utilize the continuum of sexual violence framework by assessing a range of sexual abuses, by gender and sexual identity. We hypothesize LGBQA+ relative to heterosexual individuals are more likely to report SV in AYA, and we explore whether these observations differ by respondent’s gender. In addition, we hypothesize all forms of sexual violent acts will occur in the LGBQA+ AYA regardless of the respondent’s gender.

Design/Methods: In this survey-based cross-sectional study we analyzed data from Cal-VEX 2020, a state-representative survey of Californians aged ≥18 (Nf2115), to assess associations between LGBQA+ identification (gay/lesbian, bisexual, other vs. heterosexual) and types of SV in adolescence (13-17) and young adulthood (18-24) using gender-stratified adjusted logistic regression. Forms of SV included verbal, cyber, and coercion/physically aggressive sexual harassment; homophobic/transphobic slurs; and forced sex.

Results: Compared to heterosexual individuals, female and male LGBQA+ individuals had significantly higher odds of homophobic/transphobic slurs (female AOR 14.65 95% CI: 5.14-41.77; male AOR 14.17 95% CI 6.96-28.86) and forced sex (female AOR 5.35 95% CI 2.74-10.43; male AOR 2.68 95% CI 1.01-7.10) in adolescence. Female LGBQA+ individuals also had higher odds of verbal and coercion/physically aggressive sexual harassment in adolescence. Female and male LGBQA+ individuals had higher odds of homophobic/transphobic slurs (female AOR 18.58 95% CI 7.12-48.49; male AOR 16.73 95% CI 8.26-33.92) in young adulthood. Male LGBQA+ individuals also had higher odds of verbal, cyber, and coercion/physically aggressive sexual harassment and forced sex in young adulthood.Conclusion(s): Our findings support prior research and expand upon it by We documented increased risk for LGBQA+ individuals across an intersectional continuum of SV and are consistent with prior research. Multi-fold solutions are needed to support LGBQA+ youth, including altering social norms accepting sexual violence and homophobia, creating safer schools and other institutional environments, and supporting healthy sexual and romantic partnerships.
Table 1Definitions of types of sexual violence and corresponding experiences
Table 2Adjusted logistic regression models to assess associations between our independent variable, sexual identity, with experiences of sexual violence in adolescence (age 13-17) adjusting for demographic covariates, among California adults