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School Climate, Absenteeism and School Transfer Due to Transphobic Bullying in Transgender and Non-Binary Youth

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Title: School Climate, Absenteeism and School Transfer Due to Transphobic Bullying in Transgender and Non-Binary Youth
Language: English
Authors: Anna Martha Vaitses Fontanari (ORCID 0000-0002-1457-3884), Marina Feijó (ORCID 0000-0002-6031-9780), Anna Paula Villas-Boas (ORCID 0000-0003-1089-0054), Guilherme Welter Wendt (ORCID 0000-0002-9014-6120), Angelo Brandelli Costa (ORCID 0000-0002-0742-8152)
Source: Journal of Adolescence. 2026 98(2):591-601.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Educational Environment, Attendance, Transfer Students, Bullying, Transgender People, Gender Identity, LGBTQ People, Foreign Countries, Outcomes of Education, Well Being
Geographic Terms: Brazil
DOI: 10.1002/jad.70084
ISSN: 0140-1971
1095-9254
Abstract: Introduction: This study investigates the critical role of school climate in relation to absenteeism and school transfer due to transphobic bullying among transgender and gender non-binary youth in Brazil, a context where research on this population is scarce. School climate, characterized by feelings of belonging, safety, and positive relationships, has been shown to significantly impact academic outcomes and overall well-being. Understanding these dynamics is crucial to supporting transgender and gender non-binary students, who often face unique challenges in educational settings. Methods: A total of 293 Brazilian transgender and gender non-binary youth, with a mean age of 18.71 years (ranging from 13 to 25 years) participated in the study. Gender identities comprised 45.02% transgender girls, 22.34% transgender boys, and 32.65% non-binary individuals, 58.87% White and 41.13% Non-White. Measures included assessments of school connectedness, school safety, and experiences with transphobic bullying. Results: High rates of school disruption were prevalent; 45.4% of participants reported prolonged absences of more than two consecutive weeks, and over half (55.6%) had wanted to change schools due to transphobic bullying. Students in post-high school settings reported statistically significantly higher levels of school connectedness and perceived safety compared to students in high school. However, perceived safety in gender-segregated spaces, such as washrooms and changing rooms, was critically low for both groups. Furthermore, higher perceived support for gender affirmation from peers and teachers was strongly and positively correlated with increased school connectedness and safety across all contexts. Conclusions: Low school connectedness and safety are significant risk factors for school disruption among Brazilian transgender and non-binary youth. The transition from high school to post-secondary education is associated with an improved school climate, yet critical safety issues in specific areas persist across all educational levels. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions in Brazilian schools--particularly within secondary education--to foster supportive, gender-affirming relationships and implement policies.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1496574
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: School Climate, Absenteeism and School Transfer Due to Transphobic Bullying in Transgender and Non-Binary Youth
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anna+Martha+Vaitses+Fontanari%22">Anna Martha Vaitses Fontanari</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1457-3884">0000-0002-1457-3884</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marina+Feijó%22">Marina Feijó</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6031-9780">0000-0002-6031-9780</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anna+Paula+Villas-Boas%22">Anna Paula Villas-Boas</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1089-0054">0000-0003-1089-0054</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Guilherme+Welter+Wendt%22">Guilherme Welter Wendt</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9014-6120">0000-0002-9014-6120</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Angelo+Brandelli+Costa%22">Angelo Brandelli Costa</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0742-8152">0000-0002-0742-8152</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Adolescence%22"><i>Journal of Adolescence</i></searchLink>. 2026 98(2):591-601.
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 11
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Environment%22">Educational Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attendance%22">Attendance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transfer+Students%22">Transfer Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bullying%22">Bullying</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transgender+People%22">Transgender People</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Identity%22">Gender Identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22LGBTQ+People%22">LGBTQ People</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well+Being%22">Well Being</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Brazil%22">Brazil</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1002/jad.70084
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0140-1971<br />1095-9254
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Introduction: This study investigates the critical role of school climate in relation to absenteeism and school transfer due to transphobic bullying among transgender and gender non-binary youth in Brazil, a context where research on this population is scarce. School climate, characterized by feelings of belonging, safety, and positive relationships, has been shown to significantly impact academic outcomes and overall well-being. Understanding these dynamics is crucial to supporting transgender and gender non-binary students, who often face unique challenges in educational settings. Methods: A total of 293 Brazilian transgender and gender non-binary youth, with a mean age of 18.71 years (ranging from 13 to 25 years) participated in the study. Gender identities comprised 45.02% transgender girls, 22.34% transgender boys, and 32.65% non-binary individuals, 58.87% White and 41.13% Non-White. Measures included assessments of school connectedness, school safety, and experiences with transphobic bullying. Results: High rates of school disruption were prevalent; 45.4% of participants reported prolonged absences of more than two consecutive weeks, and over half (55.6%) had wanted to change schools due to transphobic bullying. Students in post-high school settings reported statistically significantly higher levels of school connectedness and perceived safety compared to students in high school. However, perceived safety in gender-segregated spaces, such as washrooms and changing rooms, was critically low for both groups. Furthermore, higher perceived support for gender affirmation from peers and teachers was strongly and positively correlated with increased school connectedness and safety across all contexts. Conclusions: Low school connectedness and safety are significant risk factors for school disruption among Brazilian transgender and non-binary youth. The transition from high school to post-secondary education is associated with an improved school climate, yet critical safety issues in specific areas persist across all educational levels. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions in Brazilian schools--particularly within secondary education--to foster supportive, gender-affirming relationships and implement policies.
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        Value: 10.1002/jad.70084
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attendance
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      – SubjectFull: Transfer Students
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      – SubjectFull: Bullying
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      – SubjectFull: Brazil
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      – TitleFull: School Climate, Absenteeism and School Transfer Due to Transphobic Bullying in Transgender and Non-Binary Youth
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