Lost in the Margins? Intersections Between Disability and Other Nondominant Statuses With Regard to Peer Victimization

This study examined the extent to which disability status, alone and in combination with other social identities, was associated with differential levels of exposure to peer victimization. Logistic analyses of survey responses from eleventh graders completing the 2008 Oregon Healthy Teen survey (N = 7,091) utilized an intersectional, intercategorical method. Findings revealed that youth with disabilities were significantly more likely to report exposure to peer victimization, compared to youth without disabilities. The highest odds of exposure to peer victimization were found among disabled sexual minority males (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 10.8 [5.84, 19.9]) and females (AOR = 4.0 [3.06, 5.25]). In order to effectively address the problem of peer victimization, it will be important to focus on youth with multiple marginalized identities including disability.