Our Research

Is harassment based on personal characteristics such as race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability more detrimental than general harassment? In 2 large population-based studies of adolescents, more than one third of those harassed reported bias–based school harassment. Both studies show that bias–based harassment is more strongly associated with compromised health than general harassment. Research on harassment among youths rarely examines the underlying cause. Attention to bias or prejudice in harassment and bullying should be incorporated into programs and policies for young people.

In adolescence, discrimination often takes the form of school harassment or bullying, but studies rarely consider prejudice as a motive underlying bullying.¹Racial/ethnic discrimination is associated with distress and compromised academic performance.^2–4 Similarly, anti-gay, anti-lesbian, and anti-bisexual harassment is linked to health risks,^5–7 and youths with disabilities report frequent victimization.⁸Previous studies have highlighted the health-compromising effects of discriminatory harassment. They have not, however, compared bias-based harassment with general harassment or examined multiple forms of bias. We addressed these issues in 2 population-based studies and compared the health implications of bias-based harassment and general harassment.