(PS9-A5) Associations Between Intraminority Stress Facets and Suicide Subgroups

            Sexual minority (SM) populations are at high risk for suicide. Prior research has demonstrated that internalized stigma, discrimination, prejudice, and victimization are positively associated with suicide risk in SM individuals. However, an emerging body of literature suggests that within group processes (i.e., intraminority stress) may also confer risk for psychopathology in SM men. The intraminority stress theory posits that status hierarchies within groups of SM men afford some members greater social and sexual capital based on the intersection of their identities (e.g., race, masculinity, appearance, etc.). However, no research to our knowledge has explored whether intraminority stress is associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Thus, the present study sought to examine whether facets of intraminority stress (sex, status, competition, and exclusion) varied as a function of suicide subgroup. Participants were (N = 188) SM men recruited through Prolific and completed a measure of suicide and intraminority stress. Results from analysis of variance suggest that the Gay Community Stress Scale (GCSS) total score varied as a function of suicide risk (p = .041), such that participants that reported a lifetime suicide attempt also reported lower intraminority stress compared to clients with only a history of a suicide plan (p = .043). In our examination of the four GCSS subscales, Status, Competition, and Exclusion did not significantly vary as a function of suicide subgroup (ps > .104). However, the GCSS Sex subscale did vary significantly as a function so suicide subgrouping (p = .030), such that participants that reported a lifetime suicide attempt also reported lower Sex subscale scores compared to participants that had only engaged in a suicide plan (p = .021). The no suicide risk group did not significantly differ from the suicide ideation, plan, or attempt groups (ps > .191). Our findings suggest that certain aspects of suicide may be differentially associated with intraminority stress. Specifically, participants in the suicide plan subgroup reported greater perceptions that the gay community values sex more than meaningful relationships compared to individuals in the suicide attempt subgroup. While we did not find any significant associations with the Exclusion, Status, or Competition subscales, this relationship may depend on a third variable (i.e., moderator). The psychological mediation framework suggests that stigma operates on emotional, interpersonal, and cognitive pathways to confer risk for psychopathology in SM populations. Thus, it is possible that associations between intraminority stress facets and suicidality may be better explained by other general psychological processes (e.g., emotion regulation).