Ben Lebovitz

@balebo.bsky.social

825 Followers 578 Following

Ph.D. Candidate | University of Wisconsin-Madison 🌈🏫 Education, Policy, and Politics. 🎶🎭🍷🪴 Free newsletter, QueerED: https://balebo.substack.com/

Seminar poster for Ben Lebovitz presenting "Pathways of Protection: Adult Support, Peer Climate, and Trans Youth Well-Being in Wisconsin" on Friday, February 6, from 12:00-1:30pm in 259 Education Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Abstract: Amid escalating restrictions on educational supports for transgender and gender diverse youth, I consider the roles of adult support and LGBTQ+ peer density as protective factors for transgender students. I use logistic regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), and inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) to analyze data from Wisconsin’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Preliminary results indicate that having a greater number of supportive adults and LGBTQ+ peers is associated with fewer past-year suicide attempts for transgender students. However, the strength and significance of adult support and LGBTQ+ peer density as a moderator between mental health and suicide attempts differ between transgender and cisgender students. These findings provide timely evidence to inform school policies and legislative debates on the importance of gender-inclusive school environments.
Table showing adjusted relative risk ratios (aRR) for transgender vs. cisgender adolescents across school climate, mental health, and social support factors. Three models are displayed: raw (unadjusted), covariate-adjusted, and with potentially invalid observations removed. Factors include bullying, mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts/behaviors), and adult support levels. Data includes significant risk differences, with higher risk for transgender adolescents in areas like bullying, self-harm, and lack of adult support.
Social Change Ecosystem Framework chart titled 'What's Your Social Change Role?' displaying various roles in social change with a central circle labeled 'Equity, Liberation, Justice, Solidarity.' Surrounding roles include Weavers, Experimenters, Frontline Responders, Visionaries, Builders, Caregivers, Disruptors, Healers, Storytellers, and Guides. Created by Deepa Iyer, 2017.