Bullying victimisation, self-esteem and perceived appearance among minoritised sexual and gender identities in adolescence

Abstract Background Adolescent experiences of bullying victimisation can significantly impact self-perception such as self-esteem and satisfaction with appearance. According to Minority Stress Theory (MST), marginalised groups, including sexual and gender minoritised (SGM) youth, experience higher stressors which can interact with internal cognitive processes, leading to heightened vigilance toward potential threats and increased psychological distress. Method A secondary analysis of data from N = 20,079 year 8 and year 10 students was conducted to investigate the relationships between bullying victimisation, self-esteem, and perceived appearance and whether the strength of these relationships differ across sexual and gender minority groups. Results Findings showed higher rates of victimisation among SGM youth, and lower self-esteem and perceived appearance satisfaction compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers. Our findings did not support the prediction that associations between general bullying victimisation and self-esteem or appearance satisfaction would be stronger among minoritised youth. Conclusions The findings highlight the need for further longitudinal research using measures of identity-specific victimisation to clarify how minority stress processes operate during adolescence. The study underscored the importance of considering both the psychological impact of bullying and the unique experiences of SGM youth in the development of intervention strategies aimed at reducing bullying and promoting positive mental health outcomes.