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ViewAttendees 3

Symposia

Suicide and Self-Injury

Session: Effects of interpersonal minority stressors on suicide and nonsuicidal self-injury: An examination across sexual, gender, and racial minority groups

4 - (SYM 93) Association of Minority Stressors with Suicidal Behavior and Ideation Characteristics Among Young Sexual and Gender Minorities at Risk for Repeat Suicide Attempts

Saturday, November 18, 2023
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM PST
Location: Skykomish (604), Level 6

Background. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth and young adults experience elevated rates of suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal behavior (SB) compared to their non-SGM peers. While research has demonstrated an association between minority stressors and SI/SB, most studies have focused on SI prevalence versus SI characteristics (e.g., intensity, severity) in this population. Empirical examination is warranted, given that SI severity and intensity may be related to future SB. Therefore, this presentation will investigate associations of minority stressors with both SI characteristics and SB among SGM youth and young adults. Methods. 40 SGM youth and young adults (aged 16-29 years) with a lifetime history of suicide attempt(s) and current SI were recruited for a case series and open-phase suicide prevention trial in San Diego, CA. At baseline, participants completed a clinical interview to assess for suicidality, as well as various self-report measures to assess minority stressors. Unadjusted one-parameter ordinal, linear, and logistic regression were used to examine the association of minority stressors with SI severity, SI intensity, and presence of SBs, respectively. Results. Scores on Heterosexist Discrimination were not significantly associated with SI severity (p=.956) but were positively associated with SI intensity (r=.33, p=.041) and SB presence (OR=2.62, p=.042). Both Sexual Orientation Concealment (p=.736, p=.500, and p=.659, respectively) and, among those with a binary gender identity, Internalized Homophobia (p=.137, p=.424, and p</b>=.999, respectively) were not significantly associated with SI severity, SI intensity, and SB presence. Conclusion. Findings suggest that increased heterosexist discrimination may be associated with increased SI intensity and presence of SBs, but not other minority stressors. Although assessed cross-sectionally, exposure to, and hypervigilance around navigating, prejudice and stigma may further intensify SI and may underlie pathways towards SBs among SGM youth and young adults. SGM-specific suicide prevention efforts may be more efficacious when including minority stress-alleviating interventions.