Comparing the Impact of Adolescent Dating Violence and Bullying on Anxiety Among LGBTQ+ and Heterosexual-Cisgender Adolescents in Vermont

Objective To examine how emotionally controlling behavior (ECB), adolescent dating violence (ADV), and bullying influence anxiety among LGBTQ+ and heterosexual-cisgender adolescents in Vermont. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of the 2021 Vermont Youth Behavioral Risk Survey (YRBS) was conducted among dating students (N=9007). Variables included sexual/gender identity, anxiety, ECB, physical dating violence, and bullying. Descriptive statistics and stratified binomial logistic regression were used, adjusting for demographics. Results Anxiety was reported by 68.7% of LGBTQ+ versus 30.2% of heterosexual-cisgender youth (p< 0.001). ECB and bullying significantly increased anxiety in both groups. For LGBTQ+ youth, ECB raised Odds (1-3 times, OR=2.1; 4+ times, OR=3.5), as did bullying (OR=2.1). Heterosexual-cisgender youth showed stronger associations (ECB Odds: 1-3 times OR=2.3, 4+ times OR=5.4; bullying OR=2.8). Physical dating violence was associated with anxiety for heterosexual-cisgender (OR: 1.4) but not LGBTQ+ youth (OR: 1.1). Conclusions ECB and bullying are strongly associated with anxiety, underscoring the need for targeted interventions addressing emotional abuse and bullying.