Bullying-related victimization and delinquency: mediation by negative emotions and moderation by LGBTQ+ identity

While previous research has examined the extent to which bullying victimization relates to delinquency via negative emotions, few studies have considered how this process may vary by subgroups of the population. Moreover, studies have yet to consider specifically how these processes may vary among youth who identify and LGBTQ+, an at-risk group who experiences higher rates of bullying victimization and higher rates of negative emotions than others. This study uses data from the Technology, Teen Dating Violence and Abuse, and Bullying in Three States, 2011-2012 survey (N = 4,776) to test if relationships between bullying-related victimization and delinquency are mediated by negative emotions, and if the mediation processes are moderated by LGBTQ+ identity. Results show that relationships between bullying-related victimization and both general delinquency and substance use are largely mediated by anger. Results further show that the effect of bullying-related victimization on depression and anxiety is stronger for youth who identify as LGBTQ+ compared to youth who identify as heterosexual and cisgender, but the effects of bullying-related victimization and negative emotions on general delinquency and substance use do not vary by LGBTQ+ identity.