NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (Nov. 14, 2018) - Approximately 25% of LGBTQ college students reported they had seriously considered suicide during the previous 12 months, according to study findings recently released by the Tyler Clementi Center at Rutgers University.

Researchers examined the responses of 66,208 lesbian, gay, or bisexual students and 6,607 transgender students to seven national surveys, representing 918 four-year institutions across the United States - the largest sample of this population to be examined in higher education.

'This study provides educators, administrators, and policymakers with new information that is critical to serving the needs of queer-spectrum and trans-spectrum students,' said Maren Greathouse, director of the Tyler Clementi Center, a research unit established in 2013 in memory of the Rutgers University freshman who committed suicide after he was cyberbullied because of his sexual orientation.

The study also found that while LGBTQ students report more than double the rate of depression of their heterosexual peers, they still managed to maintain grade point averages on par with their classmates. Greathouse noted this as an indicator of the students' resilience and persistence, as studies show depression can adversely affect academic performance.

The research was funded by Rutgers University and the Tyler Clementi Foundation. For more information, visit the Tyler Clementi Center website [at https://clementicenter.rutgers.edu/news/2018-white-paper/].

For full study results, [consult the links below]:

Infographics of Study Results
" Campus Climate: https://tcc-j2made.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/09/Campus_Climate-FINAL.pdf

" Health Outcomes: https://tcc-j2made.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/01/Health_Outcomes_FINAL-1.pdf

" Academic Outcomes: https://tcc-j2made.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/09/Academic_Outcomes-Final.pdf

White Paper with full study results: https://tcc-j2made.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/09/White-Paper-Final.pdf

Broadcast interviews: Rutgers University-New Brunswick has broadcast-quality TV and radio studios available for remote live or taped interviews with Rutgers experts. For more information, contact Cynthia Medina c.medina@rutgers.edu

Rutgers University-New Brunswick is where Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, began more than 250 years ago. Ranked among the world's top 60 universities, Rutgers's flagship university is a leading public research institution and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. It is home to internationally acclaimed faculty and has 12 degree-granting schools and a Division I Athletics program. It is the Big Ten Conference's most diverse university. Through its community of teachers, scholars, artists, scientists, and healers, Rutgers is equipped as never before to transform lives.

Courtesy of Rutgers University

 Share on Facebook

Share on MySpace!

    Share on Delicious

Share on StumbleUpon!