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Effect of Same-Sex Marriage Referendums on the Suicidal Ideation Rate among Nonheterosexual People in Taiwan

Author

Listed:
  • I-Hsuan Lin

    (Department of Psychiatry, Yuan’s General Hospital, Kaohsiung 80249, Taiwan)

  • Nai-Ying Ko

    (Departments of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University and Hospital, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
    Center of Infection Control, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 70101, Taiwan)

  • Yu-Te Huang

    (Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong RM543, Hong Kong)

  • Mu-Hong Chen

    (Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
    Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan)

  • Wei-Hsin Lu

    (Department of Psychiatry, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi City 60002, Taiwan
    Department of Senior Citizen Service Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 60002, Taiwan)

  • Cheng-Fang Yen

    (Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
    Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan)

Abstract

Taiwan held voter-initiated referendums to determine same-sex marriage legalization on 24 November 2018. This study aims to compare suicidal ideation rates in heterosexual and nonheterosexual participants of a first-wave survey (Wave 1, 23 months before the same-sex marriage referendums) and a second-wave survey (Wave 2, one week after the same-sex marriage referendums) in Taiwan and to examine the influence of gender, age, and sexual orientation on the change in suicidal ideation rates in nonheterosexual participants. In total, 3286 participants in Wave 1 and 1370 participants in Wave 2 were recruited through a Facebook advertisement. Each participant completed an online questionnaire assessing suicidal ideation. The proportions of heterosexual and nonheterosexual participants with suicidal ideation were compared between the Wave 1 and Wave 2 surveys. Suicidal ideation rates between participants in the Wave 1 and Wave 2 surveys were further compared by stratifying nonheterosexual participants according to gender, age, and sexual orientation. Nonheterosexual participants in the Wave 2 survey had a higher suicidal ideation rate than those in the Wave 1 survey, whereas no difference was observed in suicidal ideation rates between heterosexual participants in Wave 2 and Wave 1. Nonheterosexual participants who were female, younger, gay, lesbian, and bisexual in Wave 2 had a higher suicidal ideation rate than those in Wave 1. The suicidal ideation rate significantly increased in nonheterosexual participants experiencing the same-sex marriage referendums in Taiwan. Whether civil rights of sexual minority individuals can be determined through referendums should be evaluated.

Suggested Citation

  • I-Hsuan Lin & Nai-Ying Ko & Yu-Te Huang & Mu-Hong Chen & Wei-Hsin Lu & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2019. "Effect of Same-Sex Marriage Referendums on the Suicidal Ideation Rate among Nonheterosexual People in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:18:p:3456-:d:268081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Huang-Chi Lin & Yi-Lung Chen & Nai-Ying Ko & Yu-Ping Chang & Wei-Hsin Lu & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2020. "Impacts of Public Debates on Legalizing the Same-Sex Relationships on People’s Daily Lives and Their Related Factors in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-12, November.
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    4. 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.
    5. Nai-Ying Ko & I-Hsuan Lin & Yu-Te Huang & Mu-Hong Chen & Wei-Hsin Lu & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2020. "Associations of Perceived Socially Unfavorable Attitudes toward Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage with Suicidal Ideation in Taiwanese People before and after Same-Sex Marriage Referendums," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Chung-Ying Lin & Ching-Shu Tsai & Chia-Wei Fan & Mark D. Griffiths & Chih-Cheng Chang & Cheng-Fang Yen & Amir H. Pakpour, 2022. "Psychometric Evaluation of Three Versions of the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Full, Eight-Item, and Three-Item Versions) among Sexual Minority Men in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, July.

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