top of page
Gender and Ethnic Difference in the Association between Bias-Based Bullying and Substance and Polysubstance Use among Diverse High School Students.
​
Rasmey Gomez, MPHc; Mikaela Rojas, MPHc; Natasha De Silva, MPHc; Lizbeth Becerra, MPH; Myriam Forster, PhD, MPH
​
Background: Adolescent substance use (e.g., alcohol, nicotine, cannabis) and particularly
polysubstance use, using more than two substances concurrently, increase risk for addiction in
adulthood are public health priorities. Bias-based bullying (BBB), being bullied because of one’s
race, religion, gender, or disability can undermine healthy development and increase risk for
maladaptive coping behaviors such as substance use. Research has linked traditional bullying
involvement to substance use, however the relationship between BBB and adolescents’ substance
use is understudied. To fill this gap, we investigated gender and ethnic differences in the
association between BBB and adolescent substance use patterns among a diverse sample of high
school students. 

Methods: Data are survey responses from students (N=1,973) enrolled in a school-based study
investigating developmental and health outcomes. GLMs assessed the association between BBB
and alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use and polysubstance use and whether these associations
varied across gender and ethnicity, adjusting for age, state, and resource insecurity.  

Results: Approximately half (52%) of the sample was female, and one-third identified as White
(31%,) followed by Black (31%), Hispanic (22%), Multiracial (9%), and Asian/AI/AN (7%).
Nearly one-third (29%) of adolescents reported polysubstance use, 22% alcohol use, 16%
nicotine use, 16% cannabis use, and over one in three (34%) reported past 30-day BBB. Youth
who experienced BBB had significantly higher odds of nicotine (AOR: 1.51, 95% CI:1.05, 2.18)
and polysubstance use (AOR: 1.38, 95% CI:1.01, 1.88) than their peers. Asian/AI/AN and male
students who experienced BBB had significantly higher odds of polysubstance use than other
ethnic groups or female students (ps = 0.03).

Conclusion: BBB can increase the risk of substance use but especially polysubstance use and
may be most harmful for minority students and males. Campus communities should consider
school- and individual-level interventions that address BBB, as well as support services for
vulnerable populations.
  • alt.text.label.Instagram
  • TikTok
bottom of page