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

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  • Russell, S.T.
  • Joyner, K.

Abstract

Objectives. Sexual orientation has been a debated risk factor for adolescent suicidality over the past 20 years. This study examined the link between sexual orientation and suicidality, using data that are nationally representative and that include other critical youth suicide risk factors. Methods. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were examined. Survey logistic regression was used to control for sample design effects. Results. There is a strong link between adolescent sexual orientation and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The strong effect of sexual orientation on suicidal thoughts is mediated by critical youth suicide risk factors, including depression, hopelessness, alcohol abuse, recent suicide attempts by a peer or a family member, and experiences of victimization. Conclusions. The findings provide strong evidence that sexual minority youths are more likely than their peers to think about and attempt suicide.

Suggested Citation

  • Russell, S.T. & Joyner, K., 2001. "Adolescent sexual orientation and suicide risk: Evidence from a national study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 91(8), pages 1276-1281.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:2001:91:8:1276-1281_7
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    Cited by:

    1. Mac an Ghaill, Mairtin & Haywood, Chris, 2012. "Understanding boys’: Thinking through boys, masculinity and suicide," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(4), pages 482-489.
    2. Roen, Katrina & Scourfield, Jonathan & McDermott, Elizabeth, 2008. "Making sense of suicide: A discourse analysis of young people's talk about suicidal subjecthood," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2089-2097, December.
    3. Cleary, Anne, 2012. "Suicidal action, emotional expression, and the performance of masculinities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(4), pages 498-505.
    4. Hatzenbuehler, Mark L. & McLaughlin, Katie A. & Xuan, Ziming, 2012. "Social networks and risk for depressive symptoms in a national sample of sexual minority youth," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(7), pages 1184-1191.
    5. Elodie Charbonnier & Florence Dumas & Adam Chesterman & Pierluigi Graziani, 2018. "Characteristics of Stress and Suicidal Ideation in the Disclosure of Sexual Orientation among Young French LGB Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-13, February.
    6. Rosa Duarte & Jos� Juli�n Escario & Jos� Alberto Molina, 2013. "Socio-demographic determinants of planning suicide and marijuana use among youths: are these patterns of behaviour causally related?," Documentos de Trabajo dt2013-03, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de Zaragoza.
    7. Katrina Walsemann & Lisa Lindley & Danielle Gentile & Shehan Welihindha, 2014. "Educational Attainment by Life Course Sexual Attraction: Prevalence and Correlates in a Nationally Representative Sample of Young Adults," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 33(4), pages 579-602, August.
    8. Yeen Huang & Pengsheng Li & Zhisheng Lai & Xiaofei Jia & Di Xiao & Tian Wang & Lan Guo & Ciyong Lu, 2018. "Chinese Sexual Minority Male Adolescents’ Suicidality and Body Mass Index," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, November.
    9. Jeremy T. Goldbach & Sheree M. Schrager & Mary Rose Mamey & Cary Klemmer & Ian W. Holloway & Carl A. Castro, 2023. "Development and Validation of the Military Minority Stress Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-15, June.
    10. Huang-Chi Lin & Chih-Cheng Chang & Yu-Ping Chang & Yi-Lung Chen & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2022. "Associations among Perceived Sexual Stigma from Family and Peers, Internalized Homonegativity, Loneliness, Depression, and Anxiety among Gay and Bisexual Men in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-13, May.
    11. Francisco Perales, 2016. "The Costs of Being “Different”: Sexual Identity and Subjective Wellbeing over the Life Course," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 827-849, June.
    12. Wexler, Lisa Marin & DiFluvio, Gloria & Burke, Tracey K., 2009. "Resilience and marginalized youth: Making a case for personal and collective meaning-making as part of resilience research in public health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 565-570, August.
    13. Wilson, Bianca D.M. & Kastanis, Angeliki A., 2015. "Sexual and gender minority disproportionality and disparities in child welfare: A population-based study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 11-17.
    14. Ryan J. Watson & Christopher W. Wheldon & Lars Wichstrøm & Stephen T. Russell, 2015. "Cross-National Investigation of Health Indicators among Sexual Minorities in Norway and the United States," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-14, October.
    15. Wells, Elizabeth A. & Asakura, Kenta & Hoppe, Marilyn J. & Balsam, Kimberly F. & Morrison, Diane M. & Beadnell, Blair, 2013. "Social services for sexual minority youth: Preferences for what, where, and how services are delivered," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 312-320.
    16. DiFulvio, Gloria T., 2011. "Sexual minority youth, social connection and resilience: From personal struggle to collective identity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(10), pages 1611-1617, May.
    17. Grafsky, Erika L. & Letcher, Amber & Slesnick, Natasha & Serovich, Julianne M., 2011. "Comparison of treatment response among GLB and non-GLB street-living youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 569-574, May.
    18. Maya Amitai & Alan Apter, 2012. "Social Aspects of Suicidal Behavior and Prevention in Early Life: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-10, March.
    19. Russell, Stephen T. & Toomey, Russell B., 2012. "Men’s sexual orientation and suicide: Evidence for U.S. adolescent-specific risk," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(4), pages 523-529.

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