Impact of Victimization on Risk of Suicide Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual High School Students in San Francisco

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.07.009

Journal of Adolescent Health

Volume 50, Issue 4, April 2012, Pages 418-420

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.07.009 Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the association between sexual orientation, victimization, and suicide risk-related outcomes among youth attending public high schools in San Francisco.

Methods

Data from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed using bivariate and logistic regression methods for complex samples to examine the relationship between sexual orientation, victimization, and three suicide risk-related outcomes (sadness/depression, suicide planning, and attempting suicide) while controlling for demographics and substance use.

Results

Lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) youth reported significantly higher rates of substance use, victimization, and suicide risk-related outcomes than heterosexual youth. However, in the controlled regression models, victimization was a significant predictor of sadness/depression and suicide attempts, regardless of sexual orientation. There was a significant interaction effect between sexual orientation and victimization on suicide planning, with heterosexual youth more affected than LGB youth.

Conclusions

Results underscore the deleterious effect of victimization on suicide risk-related outcomes, regardless of sexual orientation. As LGB youth continue to report higher rates of victimization, effective violence prevention approaches must focus on reducing violence among youth, specifically LGB youth. Additional research should focus on identification of other factors that may help further explain elevated suicide risk among LGB youth.

Section snippets

Sampling

The current study used data from SFUSD's 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a population-based survey developed by the CDC (84% response rate, n = 2,154 students in grades 9–12 across 15 SFUSD high schools).

Measures

Three suicide risk-related outcomes from the YRBS were analyzed as dichotomous dependent variables: sadness/depression (i.e., during the past 12 months, did you ever feel so sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 weeks or more in a row that you stopped doing some usual activities?),

Results

LGB youth reported significantly higher rates of substance use, victimization, and suicide risk-related outcomes than H youth (Table 1). Statistically significant ORs ranged from 3.3 to 6.2 across measured indicators.

No significant interaction effect between sexual orientation and victimization was found in the logistic regression models examining sadness/depression or suicide attempt. In both models, sexual orientation and victimization showed statistically significant main effects after

Discussion

No differential effect of victimization was found on the reports of sadness/depression or suicide attempts for LGB versus H youth. Controlling for demographics and substance use, victimization and sexual orientation were found to be significant risk factors for these two suicide risk-related outcomes. By contrast, there was a differential effect of victimization on reported suicide planning, with H youth reporting more severe consequences–a threefold increase in the odds of suicide planning for

Conclusions

Despite the sample size limitations of this study and its focus on relatively low prevalence outcomes, which can undermine statistical power because of low cell counts, the results do underscore the deleterious effect of victimization on suicide-related outcomes among both LGB and H youth in our school-based sample. Our results also confirm that more research is needed on other contextual factors and experiences beyond those measured by our models (e.g., family support, community

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the San Francisco Unified School District under cooperative agreement with the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (5U87DP001177-03).

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The relationship between school bullying victimization and mental health among high school sexual minority students in China: A cross-sectional study
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School bullying has become a matter of global concern for the general public. Sexual minority youth (SMY) may experience minority stress and victimization which are known to adversely affect mental health and happiness. However, a few scholars explored and linked sexual orientation with campus bullying, depression, and anxiety symptoms under the specific cultural background of China.
This study was to examine the effect of traditional and cyber bullying victimization on depression and anxiety among Chinese sexual minority adolescents.
This is a cross-sectional survey with a total of 3841 subjects among senior high school students in Hunan Province, China. Related information was collected through a series of self-reported questionnaires. The association between variables was examined via a set of logistic regressions.
Homosexuality (OR: 6.398; 95 % CI: 3.321 to 12.325), bisexuality (OR: 3.146; 95 % CI: 1.499 to 6.603) and uncertainty of sexual orientation (OR: 2.341; 95 % CI: 1.516 to 3.615) were significantly associated with a combination of traditional and cyber bullying victimization. Compared to the heterosexual group, the sexual minority students, especially the bisexual students has a higher risk of depressive mood (OR: 2.349; 95 % CI: 1.664 to 3.316) and anxiety mood (OR: 3.049; 95 % CI: 2.150 to 4.324). Further multivariate binary hierarchical regression showed that the effects of sexual orientation and mental health were statistically significant only among those who are not involved in bullying victimization, OR values are from 1.929 (95 % CI: 1.061 to 3.507) to 3.209 (95 % CI: 2.090 to 4.927).
Homosexuals are most likely to be victims of a combination of traditional and cyber bullying victims. Bisexuals are most at risk for emotional problems. Sexual minorities in particular, showed differences in mental health risks between bullied and non-bullied groups. More attention needs to be paid to bullying and mental health among sexual minority students in China.
Peer experiences of LGBQ youth
2023, Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Health, First Edition
A growing number of adolescents have diverse sexual identities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning (i.e., LGBQ). As a marginalized and minoritized group, LGBQ youth face unique challenges in peer relationships that impact their mental health and well-being. Minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003) provides a framework for understanding how marginalization and discrimination experiences, rather than sexual identity per se, contribute to health disparities among LGBQ youth. In the current chapter, we consider minority stressors that LGBQ adolescents experience in the peer context, including identity concealment, coming out, peer rejection, harassment and victimization, and friendship instability. We describe research linking these experiences of peer adversity with LGBQ adolescents’ health and well-being, including substance use, depression, and suicidality. Additionally, we highlight school connectedness and supportive friendships as potential protective factors. Finally, we summarize conclusions and implications of the research and offer suggestions for how future work might expand the scholarship on LGBQ adolescents’ peer relationships by increasing attention to diverse emerging sexual identities, intersectionality, the developmental course of sexual identity in sociopolitical context, and friendship features and processes that promote enhanced well-being among LGBQ youth.
The roles of school in supporting LGBTQ+ youth: A systematic review and ecological framework for understanding risk for suicide-related thoughts and behaviors
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Citation Excerpt :
Finally, school context was explored in three studies exclusively exploring school demographics characteristics and school structure was explored in two studies in relation to health and sexual education curricula. Findings exploring queer students broadly (i.e., not disaggregated by specific LGBTQ+ identity within the queer umbrella) overwhelmingly supported a direct relationship between victimization and STB, with effect sizes ranging from small to large (Annor et al., 2018; Ballard et al., 2017; Barnett et al., 2019; Bontempo & D'Augelli, 2002; Bouris et al., 2016; Button, 2015; Button & Worthen, 2014; Duong & Bradshaw, 2014; Eisenberg et al., 2016; Espelage et al., 2018; Friedman et al., 2006; Goldblum et al., 2012; Goodenow et al., 2006; Hatchel, Ingram, et al., 2019; Hatchel, Merrin, & Espelage, 2019; Hatzenbuehler & Keyes, 2013; King et al., 2018; Poteat et al., 2011; Russell et al., 2011; Shields et al., 2012; Taliaferro et al., 2018; Walls et al., 2008). Multiple studies accounting for demographic characteristics and/or other significant predictors of STB (e.g., hopelessness, depressive symptoms, drug and alcohol use) also supported the significant negative effects of victimization on STB, with small to moderate effect sizes (e.g., Button, 2015; Goodenow et al., 2006; Perez-Brumer et al., 2017; Taliaferro & Muehlenkamp, 2017; Walls et al., 2008).
The extant literature on suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STB) has highlighted increased patterns of risk among specific minoritized populations, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, two spirit, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth. Compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, LGBTQ+ youth are at increased risk for having STB. Identity-specific stressors such as homonegativity and anti-queerness are among the unique factors posited to contribute to this risk and inhibit factors that protect against suicide. The school setting has been a focal point for suicide prevention and intervention and may also play a key role in linking students to care; however, schools also hold the potential to provide supports and experiences that may buffer against risk factors for STB in LGBTQ+ students. This systematic literature review presents findings from 44 studies examining school-related correlates of STB in LGBTQ+ students, informing an ecological approach to suicide prevention for school settings. Findings underscore the importance of school context for preventing STB in LGBTQ+ youth. Approaches that prioritize safety and acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth should span multiple layers of a student's ecology, including district and state level policies and school programs and interventions, such as Gender and Sexuality Alliances and universal bullying prevention programs. Beyond their role as a primary access point for behavioral health services, schools offer a unique opportunity to support suicide prevention by combating minority stressors through promoting positive social relationships and a safe community for LGBTQ+ students.
The intersection between youth who identify as LGBTQ+ and emergency care for suicidality: an integrative review
2022, Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Suicide is a leading cause of death in children. Sexual minority youth are greater than three times more likely to attempt suicide than their cisgender heterosexual peers.
Empirical and theoretical literature were evaluated through the integrative review process using the Whittemore-Knafl integrative review model (2005). Studies were included when they addressed LGBTQ+ youth seeking emergency care for suicidality.
The final sample included a mix of 13 qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies published in peer-review journals between 2011 and 2020. These articles were located in journals found through a database search, including Medline EBSCO, Health Source/Nursing Academic Education, SportDiscus, ERIC EBSCO, Academic Search Elite, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, APA Psych Info, Embase, and CINAHL.
Thirteen studies included individuals 5 to 26 years of age; ten studies included individuals > 11 years old. The analysis and synthesis of coded and grouped data resulted in four themes: 1) affirmation/acceptance, 2) strength, 3) approach/intervention, and 4) safety/psychological distress.
Research study methods, design, setting, and quality varied. This integrative review has established that youth who identify as LGBTQ+ and are seeking emergency care for suicidality, value: acceptance, safety, strength, and approach/intervention.
There are strong implications for research, healthcare policy, and pediatric nursing practice. Future research is needed to explore the unique values, beliefs, and experiences of youth who identify as LGBTQ+ seeking emergency/crisis care for suicidality.
Sexual orientation and sleep problem among Chinese college students: Mediating roles of interpersonal problems and depressive symptoms
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This study aimed to investigate disparities in sleep quality between sexual minority and heterosexual college students, and to examine the serial multiple mediation effects of interpersonal relationships and depressive symptoms on sexual minority disparities in sleep quality. We also explored the sex differences in the mediating effects.
Data were drawn from the 2019 School-based Chinese College Students Health Survey using a multi-stage, stratified-cluster, random-sampling method to examine the risk factors of sleep disparities and the mediation effects. Measures included sexual orientation, perceived interpersonal relationships (i.e., family, teachers, and peer relationship), depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and other covariates.
Of all the college students in the analysis, 95.8% were heterosexual, 4.2% were sexual minorities. In the adjusted model without mediation, sexual minority students were at a higher risk of poor sleep quality (P < 0.001). Serial multiple mediation analysis revealed that: both interpersonal relationships and depressive symptoms mediated the link between sexual orientation and sleep quality; a serial indirect pathway (i.e., sexual orientation → interpersonal relationships → depressive symptoms → sleep quality) existed. Moreover, the serial indirect pathway might be moderated by sex.
Causal inference is limited due to the cross-sectional design.
Interventions to prevent or manage sleep disorders of sexual minority college students may yield better results if they consider the effects of improving interpersonal relationships and depression symptoms comprehensively than targeting sleep problems alone.
Suicide Attempts in Association With Traditional and Electronic Bullying Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority U.S. High School Students
2021, Journal of Adolescent Health
The aim of this study was to compare the association between bullying (traditional, electronic, and both) and suicide attempt in heterosexual and lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) U.S. high school students.
Data were obtained from 2015–2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
Nearly 25% of students reported experiencing bullying. Approximately 5.9% of heterosexual and 25.7% of LGB students attempted suicide. Heterosexual students who experienced either traditional or electronic bullying had a higher risk of attempting suicide (1.54 [95% confidence interval 1.19–1.98] and 1.64 [1.23–2.19], respectively). The associations were similar but weaker among LGB students (1.49 [1.08–2.04] and 1.43 [.90–2.27], respectively). Students who experienced both forms of bullying had the highest prevalence of suicide attempt, but the interaction was not statistically significant.
LGB students had higher rates of both suicide attempts and experiencing bullying. Traditional and electronic bullying are not synergistic in the risk of attempting suicide, although each form increases that risk.

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Adolescent health briefImpact of Victimization on Risk of Suicide Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual High School Students in San Francisco

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Section snippets

Sampling

Measures

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

Acknowledgments

J Pediatr

J Adolesc Health

Association between health risk behaviors, sexual orientation among a school-based sample of adolescents

Pediatrics

LGBTQ youth are at risk in U.S. school environment

SIECUS Report

Adolescent sexual orientation and suicide risk: Evidence from a national study

Am J Public Health

Adolescent health brief
Impact of Victimization on Risk of Suicide Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual High School Students in San Francisco