Family support, school-age and workplace bullying for LGB people
International Journal of Manpower
ISSN: 0143-7720
Article publication date: 25 October 2019
Issue publication date: 17 August 2020
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Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine associations between: family support during the school-age period, and school-age bullying (short-term associations); and family support during the school-age period and workplace bullying (long-term associations) for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults in Britain.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors employ retrospective questions regarding family support for LGB children and school-age bullying and questions regarding workplace bullying in the respondents’ present jobs. A 2016 data set was utilized which was created by attending events during the UK LGBT History Month.
Findings
The empirical investigation demonstrates that supportive family environments toward LGB children reduce both school-age and workplace bullying.
Practical implications
Given the increasing number of people self-identifying as LGB, the significant percentages of school and workplace bullying incidents and the corresponding negative effects on people’s lives, it is important to examine the benefits of family support with regards to reducing school and workplace victimization. This study also reports that family support could have an enduring influence on the experiences of LGB children and adults.
Originality/value
No known research has considered the possible developmental benefits of family support on reducing future workplace bullying for LGB children. In addition, this might be the first study which simultaneously examines family support toward LGB children, school-age and workplace bullying.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the comments and suggestions of the responsible Editor, Klaus F. Zimmermann and from the three referees, which have significantly improved the paper. The data appendix, codes and STATA tables have been provided to the editors and referees. The authors appreciate the study's participants, Anglia Ruskin University and University of Cambridge students for their assistance with data collection. The project could not have happened without assistance and comments kindly provided by several UK LGBT unions. The study received ethics approval from the Anglia Ruskin University Ethics Panel.
Citation
Sidiropoulou, K., Drydakis, N., Harvey, B. and Paraskevopoulou, A. (2020), "Family support, school-age and workplace bullying for LGB people", International Journal of Manpower, Vol. 41 No. 6, pp. 717-730. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-03-2019-0152
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited