Social Exclusion, Absenteeism And Sexual Minority Youth

In this article, on a topic not previously explored in this journal, Ian Rivers compares two groups of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults (mean age, 28 years) who reported having been subjected to anti‐lesbian/gay abuse at school. The first group recalled a history of absenteeism at school while the second group, although experiencing similar levels of harassment, reported attending school on a regular basis. The findings suggest an association between the experience of harassment and a history of absenteeism and an ideation of self‐harm and suicide while at school. Rivers proposes that anti‐harassment initiatives be set up to ensure a safe environment in which sexual minority youth can learn.