Victimization of Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Narrative Review of Prevalence Rates, Adverse Outcomes, Protective Factors, and Suggestions for Future Research.

Abstract

Victimization is a common but unfortunate reality, with sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals at an increased risk of various forms of victimization compared with the heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. This disproportionate victimization of SGMs increases the likelihood that these individuals will experience adverse mental, physical, and educational outcomes. Some scholars have explored potential protective factors, specific to SGMs, that may be associated with a decreased risk of victimization and/or subsequent adverse outcomes. The present article provides readers with a narrative review of the relevant literature on these topics by examining prevalence rates of SGM victimization, common adverse consequences experienced by SGMs, and empirically examined protective factors for SGMs that show some evidence of effectiveness. The article ends with a discussion of suggestions for future research.