Bystander Helping Intentions in Risky Alcohol Use and Teen Dating Violence Situations Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

Despite research suggesting that sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) experience high rates of risky alcohol use (RAU) and teen dating violence (TDV), and that RAU and TDV co-occur at high rates, we know little about how to prevent these deleterious behaviors among SGMY. One promising approach to the prevention of RAU and TDV among SGMY is cross-cutting programs that teach SGMY how to intervene safely and effectively in situations of RAU and TDV. To date, however, we know little about factors that relate to bystander helping intentions in situations of RAU and TDV. The current study addressed this gap in the literature. Participants were 304 SGMY (ages 15-18) recruited online from across the United States who completed a baseline survey prior to participating in an online intervention to prevent RAU and TDV. Results suggested that, on average, SGMY reported high levels of bystander helping intentions in situations of RAU and TDV. RAU and proactive TDV bystander helping intentions were significantly correlated, but RAU and reactive TDV bystander helping intentions were unrelated. Further, there were differential correlates of bystander helping intentions in situations of RAU and TDV. More specifically, (a) higher rates of LGBTQ+ community connectedness were related to higher levels of reactive bystander intentions in situations of TDV; (b) higher depression, lower internalized homo/bi/transphobia, and lower levels of RAU were related to proactive bystander intentions in situations of TDV; and (c) low levels of emotional dysregulation and perceptions of higher rates of TDV perpetration among LGBTQ+ teens were related to bystander intentions in situations of RAU. The current study sheds light on modifiable factors that may be helpful in enhancing RAU and TDV bystander helping intentions and ultimately RAU and TDV among SGMY. Further, results support the importance of addressing both forms of bystander helping behaviors in developing efficacious interventions.