Sexual Violence Victimization and Gender Identity: A National Study of High School Students in the United States, 2023

Experiencing sexual violence is an adverse childhood experience. Emerging data suggest transgender youth disproportionately experience sexual violence. We investigate differences in sexual violence victimization by gender identity in a nationally representative sample of U.S. high school students. We analyzed 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey data of n = 15,073 U.S. high school students. Multivariable logistic regressions compared three measures of sexual victimization (lifetime forced sexual intercourse [FSI]; past 12-month any sexual violence; and past 12-month dating sexual violence) by gender identity. We also conducted sex-stratified models. Analyses controlled for grade, race, ethnicity, and alcohol use. Transgender youth had significantly greater odds of lifetime FSI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.29), past 12-month sexual violence (aOR: 2.47), and past 12-month dating violence (aOR: 2.01), relative to cisgender youth. Interactions were significant for all three outcomes ( p < .001). Among those who identified their sex as male, transgender identity corresponded with greater odds of reporting lifetime FSI (aOR:13.17), past 12-month sexual violence (aOR: 9.24), and past 12-month dating violence (aOR: 9.56). Among those who identified their sex as female, odds of all outcomes were equivalent by gender identity. Transgender youth had higher odds of experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime and within the past year. Prevention measures, as well as trauma-informed treatment, are needed to reduce the incidence and impact of sexual violence among youth.