The Effects Of Homophobic Bullying Social Work Essay

The make Of discriminatory Bullying Social blend EssayThe stigma and prejudice attached to homointimateity encour advances the protraction of prejudiced blustering(a) against the lesbian, gay, bi versed and Trans gender (LGBT) y stunnedh by their peers. Bullying post retreat the form of discriminatory epithets, intimate harassment and even violence. The naval division room has been described by tender psychologists as the most prejudiced of any institutions. This paper examines the effects of homophobic bullying on the bodily and noetic health of the LGBT youth which is characterized by depressive disorder, self-destruction ideation and engaging in take chancesy behaviors (alcohol and nerve deprave). The paper in any case analyses the buffering effects provided by imperative condition temper, p atomic number 18ntal and peer fight as salutary as personal resilience.Keywords LGBT youth, homophobic bullying, depression, hostile schooltime climate, suicide id eationThe Effects of prejudiced Bullying on the Mental and Physical health of LGBT YouthThe Buffering Effects of Positive schoolho recitation clime and P arntal SupportA criticism of the LiteratureIn todays permissive ordering an increasing number of adolescents who argon in their early and warmheartedness teens (Middle and High school students) wipe out begun to spot out of the proverbial closet. However, even in this day and age our society is largely intolerant of deviation from gender norms prescribed by the culture. This makes it oddly challenging for lesbian, gay, cissy and transgender (LGBT) youth who be struggling and trying to summate to terms with their cozy identity and orientation. The stigma attached to homosexuality encourages the perpetuation of homophobic bullying against the LGBT youth by their peers. It is a matter of coarse concern to the doctors, psychologists and the entire confederation that there is a high incidence of suicide within this sex ual nonage group as compared to the heterosexual youth. This literature review focuses on homophobic bullying and its effects on the LGBT youth who are at a challenging stage in life and are struggling with their feelings about sexual orientation and sexual gender. The effects of homophobic bullying on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth get across challenges to their psychosocial development, turned on(p) di tenor an increase in perily behavior (substance profane), depression and suicide ideation. However, the literature review also highlights the buffering effects of a positivistic school environment and peremptory parental relations against negative effects of homophobic bullying.Homophobic Teasing and General equal VictimizationHomophobic teasing, peer victimization and gender non-conformity attitudes are some definitive rational health issues faced by the LGBT youth as result of their sexual orientation. Homophobic teasing is often long-term, systematic, and perpetrated by groups of students it places the targets at jeopardize for greater suicide ideation, depression and isolation. Homophobic teasing includes negative beliefs, attitudes, stereotypes and behaviors towards gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender youth, and can take the form of communicatory and/or physical abuse, and in todays advanced expert age cyber abuse. Peer victimization can take the form of verbal insults, threats of violence, physical assault, and sexual assault (Espelage, Aragon, Birkett Koenig, 2008). A 2009 survey of more than 7,000 LGBT middle and high school students aged 13-21 years found that in the knightly year, because of their sexual orientation Eight of ten students had been verbally harassed at school four of ten had been physically harassed at school six of ten felt unsafe at school and unmatchable of five had been the victim of a physical assault at school (cdc.gov).Challenges to Psycho Social DevelopmentAccording to Erik Eriksons theory of psychosocial development all individuals must master detail developmental tasks during the adolescent years in order to farting productive and healthy lives. These tasks include adjusting to the physical and worked up changes of puberty, forming practical social and functioning relationships with peers, accomplishing independence from primary care takers, preparing for a career, and formation of a unique identity and a set of virtuous values (McDermott, Roen Scourfield 2008). However, for the LGBT adolescents achieving these developmental goals is challenged by the extend of being part of a stigmatized group. These youth also have to contend with a lack or absence of a book system such as family rejection, social isolation and harassment by peers and feelings of madness with the school as a result of consistent homophobic bullying.Emotional DistressThe social climate of our nation promotes heterosexist attitudes and these views are up held by our social institutions such a s families, schools, the church, and government institutions. These prejudiced attitudes result in gay related stress for the LGBT youth who experience a unique set of stressors related instantly to being sexual minorities within a heterosexually oriented society. These stressors may be both external (homophobic bullying, family rejection), and internal (internalized homophobia) in nature From the time they are children the youth have been barraged by negative attitudes towards homosexuality and this can lead to the internalization of homophobic sentiments. Internalized homophobia often results in feelings of shame and disgust towards ones sexual orientation which has been reinforced by family and society and can create involution and dissonance and lead to aflame distress (Rosario Schrimshaw 2002).School Alienation and deficiency of Social SupportThe constant flow of negative information regarding gender non -conformity and homosexuality from figures of authority such as paren ts, teachers, the clergy, and government officials encourages discriminatory and prejudicious behavior towards the sexual minority group by fellow students. Their heterosexist tendencies are manifested through homophobic bullying, social isolation and violence towards the vulnerable LGBT adolescents. Peer victimization can result in creating a hostile school environment and promotes feelings of alienation from school. An on-line research manoeuvered on 3,450 public and snobby students (ages13-18) in the U.S found that 88% of the students reported that homophobic remarks were used in the teachers presence and that teachers and staff failed to come in during these incidents (Espelage 2008). These findings clearly indicate that teachers and staffs failure to intervene encourages and promotes peer victimization and homophobic teasing and creates and sustains a hostile environment for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender youth.Having a strong social support system (family, peers , and teachers) is vital to maintaining mental and emotional health. It works as a buffer against stress elevates a persons self-confidence and self-esteem reduces feelings of loneliness and isolation to name a few. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans gender youth have lack or absence of a social support system by virtue of their sexual orientation that is negatively sanctioned by the heterosexual society. They face family rejection after plan of attack out, social isolation by their peers, and many adults fear discrimination, job loss, and abuse if they openly support LGBT youth. Thus there is a lack of demonstrable affair models and support system which makes it more challenging to cope with the stress produced by stigmatization (Padilla, Crisp Rew 2011).Depression, Substance Abuse, and Suicide IdeationSuicidal ideation is delimitate as conceptions of engaging in suicide-related behavior. It can range from passive ideation- having the thought but not the intent to active ideatio n which includes intent as well as a plan to harm oneself. Suicidality has a number of seek factors as well as a number of protective factors. Among LGB individuals there is a higher incidence of risk factors and there are less(prenominal) protective factors in place. There is, for example, a higher incidence of important suicide risk factors such as depression and substance abuse in LGB youth compared to their heterosexual peers. These associations between mood disorders are borne out by research studies (Malley, Posner, Potter, 2008). Also, LGB individuals often experience a lack of support at home and are deprived of positive environments in their schools due(p) to avoidance or bullying. Within the LGB cohort certain factors can chance on the risk of suicidality as well-for example the younger the age at which the individual discloses sexuality the higher the risk of suicide. According to the U.S. Department of Health and mankind Services (2007), It has been widely reported that gay and lesbian youth are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other youth and that thirty percent of all attempted or completed youth suicides are related to issues of sexual identity. The Suicide legal profession Resource Centre (2008) in the United States noted a 1.5 to 7 fold (depending on the conduct) increased risk of attempted suicide in LGB youth as compared to their heterosexual peers. A landmark study outfit by the US Secretary of Health found that one third of all sexual minority youth suicides occur before the age of seventeen (Malley, Posner, Potter, 2008). Padilla, Crisp, and Rew (2010) found that in the adolescent population sexual minorities have a much higher rate of drug use with add factors including a greater number of psychological stressors and poor social networks. They also noted that when parents accepted the adolescents sexual orientation the impact of life stressors was fall significantly.Buffering Effects Provided by parental Support and Positive School Climate and ResilienceAs mentioned previously there is a greater prevalence of psychological problems and high risk behaviors in LGBT youth then in their heterosexual peers. These include mood disorders, suicidal thoughts and substance abuse. Espelage, Aragon, Birkett and Koenig (2008) and Poteat, Mereish, Di Giovanni Koenig(2011) highlighted the crucial role a support system plays in preventing psychiatric and other behavioral problems in LGBT youth. Two important and beneficial support networks identified were the first gear of which were communicative and empathic parents and the second affirming and healthy school environments. The presence of both these networks corresponded with a markedly reduced incidence of psychological problems, suicide and substance use compared to individual where there was a lack of these support systems. Parental support and acceptance also seems to foster resilience and improve move skills.It appears from the review o f relevant literature that contrary to popular perception and notwithstanding the efforts of most sections of the media as well as many social organizations, oecumenical and unconditional acceptance of LGBT individual remains the exception and not the norm. The alienation and stigmatization is achieved through both passive (social ostracization, not standing up for LGBT rights) and aggressive (violence and emotional homophobic bullying) means and is aggravated by the absence of a buffer against these assaults in the form of parental acceptance and positive school environments. These findings do not differ much from those of earlier studies or from studies of other minorities that face prejudices. We know that the problem exists and we have identified the enabling, aggravate and protective factors. What remains to be seen is whether society volition show the will to follow words with actions. What may also be beneficial is to conduct larger studies with more statistical power so that the facts can be ascertained with a greater degree of confidence.Annotated BibliographyCenter for Disease temper and Prevention (2011, May 19). Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health. Retrieved April 3, 2012, from http//www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htmThis website provides statistics on the prevalence of homophobic bullying in the schools. Since community psychology focuses on social issues and social institutions it is of special(prenominal) interest to community psychologists that our sexual minority youth are face up harassment and violence at the hands of these social institutions such as schools, church and governmental organizations.Espelage, D.M. (2008). Addressing research gaps in the intersection between homophobia and bullying. School psychology Review, 37 (2), 155-58.Homophobic bullying is a pressing and contiguous problem lining our community since it affects adolescents who are members of a sexual minority group. One of the fundamental principles of Co mmunity psychology is a respect for mixed bag which includes race ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and social class.Espelage, D. L., Aragon, S. R., Birkett, M., Koenig, B. W. (2008). Homophobic teasing, psychological outcomes, and sexual orientation among high school students What influence does parents and schools have? School psychology Review, 37(2), 202-216.Another fundamental principle of Community Psychology is ecological prospect and multiple levels of intervention. LGBT youth face an increased risk of mental and emotional problems as a result of stigmatization of their sexual orientation. It is of interest to the community psychologist that the youths positive parental (microsystem) and school (microsystem) involvement table service as a buffer to negate the effects of stigmatization.McDermott, E., Roen, K., Scourfield, J. (2008). Avoiding shame young LGBT people, homophobia and self-destructive behaviors. Culture, Health Sexuality, 10(8), 815-829. doi10.1080/136 91050802380974Since community psychology focuses on social issues and social institutions it is of detail interest to community psychologists that our sexual minority youth are set about harassment and violence at the hands of these social institutions such as schools, church and governmental organizations.Padilla, Y. C., Crisp, C., Rew, D. (2010). Parental acceptance and illegal drug use among gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents Results from a national survey. Social Work, 55(3), 265-275.Community psychologists are concerned in the effects of social support on our youth. Since social support has been shown to promote and maintain physical and mental wellbeing and also helps in the development of resiliency in youth who are at risk such as the sexual minority youth.Poteat, V., Mereish, E. H., DiGiovanni, C. D., Koenig, B. W. (2011). The effects of general and homophobic victimization on adolescents psychosocial and educational concerns The splendour of intersecting identitie s and parent support. diary of Counseling Psychology, 58(4), 597-609. doi10.1037/a0025095Another fundamental principle of Community Psychology is ecological perspective and multiple levels of intervention. LGBT youth face an increased risk of mental and emotional problems as a result of stigmatization of their sexual orientation. It is of interest to the community psychologist that the youths positive parental (microsystem) and school (microsystem) involvement help as a buffer to negate the effects of stigmatization.Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W., Hunter, J., Gwadz, M. (2002). Gay-related stress and emotional distress among gay, lesbian and bisexual youths A longitudinal examination. Journal of Consulting and clinical Psychology, 70(4), 967-975. doi10.1037/0022-006X.70.4.967Since community psychology focuses on social issues and social institutions it is of particular interest to community psychologists that our sexual minority youth are facing harassment and violence at the hands of these social institutions such as schools, church and governmental organizations.Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (2008). Suicide risk and prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. Newton, MA Education Development Center, Inc.Community psychology advocates the importance of context and environment because our behaviors are governed by the expectations and demands of given situations. It is vital to study the social environment of the LGBT youth to figure out what interventions can be made in order to prevent suicide within this population.