Abstract
Background: Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth have elevated suicidality rates.
Aims: To investigate LGB-related and other factors associated with suicide attempts, suicidal ideation and future suicide risk in a large UK sample.
Method: Logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with suicidality in 3275 LGB young adults from the Youth Chances project.
Results: Suicide attempts (lifetime) were reported by 13.6% of participants; 45.2 % had suicidal ideation in the past year and 9.5% said future suicide attempts were likely. LGB stigma and discrimination experiences were significantly associated with all three aspects of suicidality. These included school stigma factors (e.g. teachers not speaking out against prejudice, lessons being negative about sexual minorities), negative reactions to coming out from family and friends, and LGB-related harassment or crime experiences. Bisexuality, not feeling accepted where one lives, younger sexual minority identification and younger coming out were also associated with suicidality. Significant non-LGB factors included female gender, lower social support, anxiety / depression help-seeking, abuse / violence and sexual abuse.
Conclusion: A wide range of LGB-stigma and discrimination experiences are associated with increased suicidality in LGB youth. Health, social care and education professionals supporting young people should also address LGB-specific risk factors.
Aims: To investigate LGB-related and other factors associated with suicide attempts, suicidal ideation and future suicide risk in a large UK sample.
Method: Logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with suicidality in 3275 LGB young adults from the Youth Chances project.
Results: Suicide attempts (lifetime) were reported by 13.6% of participants; 45.2 % had suicidal ideation in the past year and 9.5% said future suicide attempts were likely. LGB stigma and discrimination experiences were significantly associated with all three aspects of suicidality. These included school stigma factors (e.g. teachers not speaking out against prejudice, lessons being negative about sexual minorities), negative reactions to coming out from family and friends, and LGB-related harassment or crime experiences. Bisexuality, not feeling accepted where one lives, younger sexual minority identification and younger coming out were also associated with suicidality. Significant non-LGB factors included female gender, lower social support, anxiety / depression help-seeking, abuse / violence and sexual abuse.
Conclusion: A wide range of LGB-stigma and discrimination experiences are associated with increased suicidality in LGB youth. Health, social care and education professionals supporting young people should also address LGB-specific risk factors.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 83-92 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Crisis |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 21 Jun 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2019 |
Keywords
- discrimination
- prejudice
- sexual orientation
- stigma
- youth
Access to Document
- Psychosocial factors associated with_RIMES_Accepted20December2017_GREEN AAM
This article does not exactly replicate the final version published in the journal "Crisis". It is not a copy of the original published article and is not suitable for citation.