Risk for Suicidal Ideation Among Sexual Minority Youth From Adolescence to Young Adulthood

AbstractThe present study evaluated sociodemographic and diagnostic predictors of suicidal ideation and attempts in a nationally representative sample of preadolescent youth enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Rates and predictors of psychiatric treatment utilization among suicidal youth also were examined. Eleven thousand eight hundred and seventy-five 9- and 10-year-old children residing in the United States were assessed. Children and their parents/guardians provided reports of children’s lifetime history of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and psychiatric disorders. Parents also reported on sociodemographic characteristics and mental health service utilization. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to evaluate sociodemographic and diagnostic correlates of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts among youth with suicidal ideation, and treatment utilization among youth with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Lifetime prevalence rates were 14.33% for suicidal ideation and 1.26% for suicide attempts. Youth who identified as male, a sexual minority, or multiracial had greater odds of suicidal ideation, and sexual minority youth and youth with a low family income had greater odds of suicide attempts. Comorbid psychopathology was associated with higher odds of both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. In youth, 34.59% who have suicidal ideation and 54.82% who had attempted suicide received psychiatric treatment. Treatment utilization among suicidal youth was lower among those who identified as female, Black, and Hispanic. Suicidal ideation and attempts among preadolescent children are concerningly high and targeted assessment and preventative efforts are needed, especially for males, racial, ethnic, and sexual minority youth, and those youth experiencing comorbidity.

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Suicidal Ideation and Behavior Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Youth: 1995-2017

10.1542/9781610025409-suicidal ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 84-92

Author(s):

Richard T. Liu ◽

Rachel F.L. Walsh ◽

Ana E. Sheehan ◽

Shayna M. Cheek ◽

Sarina M. Carter

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Minority Youth ◽

Sexual Minority Youth ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

Entire Study ◽

Heterosexual Youth ◽

And Behavior ◽

Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

OBJECTIVES In this study, we determined trends in prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual youth from 1995 to 2017 using population-based surveillance data. METHODS Data were drawn from the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 1995 to 2017 (unweighted N = 41 636). The annual percent change (APC) in prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts was stratified by sexual orientation as indexed by sexual identity and sexual behavior. RESULTS Among sexual minority youth, prevalence rates declined over the entire study period for suicidal ideation (APCsexual identity = −1.25; APCsexual behavior = 1.83), plans (APCsexual identity = 1.88; APCsexual behavior = –1.95), and attempts (APCsexual identity =–2.64; APCsexual behavior = –2.47). Among heterosexual youth, prevalence rates declined from 1995 to 2007 for suicidal ideation (APCsexual identity = –6.67; APCsexual behavior = 6.77) and plans (APCsexual identity = –5.73; APCsexual behavior = –6.25). These declines in ideation and plans were steeper than those for sexual minority youth. Prevalence of suicide attempts declined across the entire Study period among heterosexual youth (APCsexual identity = –3.66; APCsexual behavior = –4.01). Prevalence of all 3 outcomes remained markedly high among sexual minority youth across the 23-year study period. CONCLUSIONS Although suicidal thoughts and behavior have generally declined among sexual minority and heterosexual youth, disparities in these outcomes persist, and their prevalence among sexual minority youth has remained consistently elevated. Prioritized screening for risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in this vulnerable population is imperative to reduce disparities and prevalence of these outcomes.

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Mediators of increased self-harm and suicidal ideation in sexual minority youth: a longitudinal study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s003329171800346x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 49 (15) ◽

pp. 2524-2532 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

O. A. Oginni ◽

E. J. Robinson ◽

A. Jones ◽

Q. Rahman ◽

K. A. Rimes

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Gender Nonconformity ◽

Minority Youth ◽

Sexual Minority Youth ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Self Harm

AbstractBackgroundSexual minority youth have elevated suicidal ideation and self-harm compared with heterosexual young people; however, evidence for mediating mechanisms is predominantly cross-sectional. Using a longitudinal design, we investigated self-esteem and depressive symptoms as mediators of increased rates of suicidal ideation or self-harm (SISH) among sexual minority youth, and the roles of childhood gender nonconformity (CGN) and sex as moderators of these relationships.MethodIn total, 4274 youth from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort reported sexual orientation at age 15 years, and past-year SISH at age 20 years. Self-esteem and depressive symptoms were assessed at ages 17 and 18 years, respectively. CGN was measured at 30–57 months. Covariates included sociodemographic variables and earlier measures of mediator and outcome variables. Mediation pathways were assessed using structural equation modelling.ResultsSexual minority youth (almost 12% of the sample) were three times more likely than heterosexual youth to report past-year SISH (95% confidence interval 2.43–3.64) at 20 years. Two mediation pathways were identified: a single mediator pathway involving self-esteem and a multiple-mediated pathway involving self-esteem and depressive symptoms. Although CGN was associated with past-year SISH, it did not moderate any mediation pathways and there was no evidence for moderation by sex.ConclusionsLower self-esteem and increased depressive symptoms partly explain the increased risk for later suicidal ideation and self-harm in sexual minority youth. Preventive strategies could include self-esteem-enhancing or protecting interventions, especially in female sexual minority youth, and treatment of depression.

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Hierarchical Analysis of Disparities in Suicidal Outcomes With Intersection of Sexual Minority and Gender Among U.S. Youth, 2017

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/10901981211045933 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 109019812110459

Author(s):

Dylan Scoggins ◽

Ali S. Khan ◽

Hongying Dai

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

The United States ◽

Minority Youth ◽

Sexual Minority Youth ◽

Suicidal Behaviors ◽

Sexual Orientation Identity

Sexual minority youth have a higher risk of suicidal behaviors than their straight peers. Despite this alarming trend, there is limited information on how health-risk factors are systematically associated with suicidal outcomes in relation to the intersection of sex and sexual orientation identity. Data from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (Grades 9–12, N = 14,108) were analyzed to examine three distinct suicidal outcomes (i.e., suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempt). Separate hierarchical logistic regression models were performed to gradually adjust for influencing factors in examining the association between suicidal outcomes and sexual orientation identity (i.e., heterosexual, gay/lesbian, bisexual, and unsure), stratified by self-reported sex. There exist significant differences in youth suicidal behaviors based on sexual orientation identity and sex: lesbians (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.7, 95% CI [1.5, 5.0]), bisexual girls (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI [1.3, 2.6]) and bisexual boys (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI [1.3, 5.2]) had higher odds of suicide attempts than their straight peers. Unsure boys and girls also reported higher risks of suicidal ideation and suicide plan as compared with their straight peers. Having a very short sleep duration, reporting ever use of illicit drugs, being bullied, and feeling sad/hopeless were associated with elevated risks of suicidality across males and females. This study identified potential disparities in suicidal outcomes by sexual orientation identity as well as factors that attenuate or strengthen this relationship in a representative sample of adolescents across the United States. An improved understanding of the differences in suicidal outcomes will serve as an opportunity to ameliorate any potential inequalities and improve sexual minority youth’ health outcomes.

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