Gabriel (Joey) Merrin (HDFS) PI, Root Causes of Bias-based Harassment in Schools: Risk and Protective Factors across Multiple Levels of the Social Ecology, Boston University / NIJ / DOJ. 7/28/21-12/31/25
Hate directed at youth with marginalized identities has increased in recent years, and there is a dearth of research that focuses on social-ecological factors associated with bias-based victimization and perpetration. The Peer Experiences Project is a nationally representative longitudinal study to understand the impact of bias-based harassment related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, and religion on psychosocial and school functioning.
The project provides the first comprehensive longitudinal examination of risk and protective factors across individual, family, peer, school, and community domains associated with bias-based harassment and the effects of bias-based harassment on psychosocial and school functioning. Findings will identify modifiable factors that promote adolescent well-being and inform school prevention efforts that target bias-based harassment. More information can be found at