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Evaluation ViewAttendees 5

Category: LGBTQ+

Symposium 27 - Suicide Risk in Sexual Minorities: Integrating Minority Stress and Contemporary Suicide Models to Illuminate Relevant Processes

Friday, November 17, 2023
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM PST
Location: Nooksack (602), Level 6
CE: 1

Keywords: LGBTQ+, Suicide, Mediation / Mediators
Level of Familiarity: All
Recommended Readings: Plöderl, M., Sellmeier, M., Fartacek, C., Pichler, E.-M., Fartacek, R., & Kralovec, K. (2014). Explaining the Suicide Risk of Sexual Minority Individuals by Contrasting the Minority Stress Model with Suicide Models. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43(8), 1559–1570.,  

Mereish, E. H., Parra, L. A., Watson, R. J., & Fish, J. N. (2022). Subtle and intersectional minority stress and depressive symptoms among sexual and gender minority adolescents of color: Mediating role of self-esteem and sense of mastery. Prevention Science, 23(1), 142-153. 

,   Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697.,  

Van Orden, K. A., Witte, T. K., Cukrowicz, K. C., Braithwaite, S. R., Selby, E. A., & Joiner, T. E. (2010). The interpersonal theory of suicide. Psychological Review, 117(2), 575–600.

,  

de Lange, J., Baams, L., van Bergen, D. D., Bos, H. M., & Bosker, R. J. (2022). Minority stress and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among LGBT adolescents and young adults: a meta-analysis. LGBT health, 9(4), 222-237.

Evidence suggests that sexual minorities are more likely to experience a longer and more severe course of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (Fox et al., 2018), are twice as likely to report suicidal ideation, and are two to four times more likely to attempt suicide relative to their heterosexual peers (Hottes et al., 2015; King et al., 2008; Marshal et al., 2011). According to the minority stress model (Meyer, 2003), increased suicide risk within this population can be attributed to exposure to chronic identity-related stress (e.g., discrimination, victimization, invalidation). However, despite minority stress model’s ability to highlight the role of identity-based rejection on suicide within this population, how these experiences increase risk for suicide has been largely unexplored. Integration of the minority stress model with contemporary models of suicide may identify relevant mechanisms. Investigation of how minority stress leads to increased suicide risk in this population may inform the development of more effective interventions that seek to decrease the impact of minority stress on suicide risk among sexual minorities. The current symposium advances research on suicide risk in sexual minorities by presenting results from three independent research laboratories highlighting factors that contribute to increased suicide risk in this population. The first presentation reports results on mechanisms underlying the relation between minority stress and suicide risk in sexual minorities. Findings from this presentation suggest that minority stress is indirectly related to suicide risk through the development of negative self-evaluations (e.g., shame and self-hatred) and suicidal desire as delineated by the interpersonal theory of suicide. The second presentation examines the associations between Intersectional Minority Stress (IMS) and suicide ideation and behaviors among BIPOC sexual minority adolescents. Findings suggest that IMS and outness may serve as risk factors for suicide thoughts and behaviors in BIPOC sexual minority adolescents. The third presentation reports results on mechanisms underlying the relation between microaggression exposure and suicidal ideation in sexual minorities. Findings from this presentation suggest that exposure to microaggressions leads to increased suicidal ideation by contributing to perceived burdensomeness. The final presentation examines the role of internalized distress on the relationship between minority stress and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Dr. Mereish, a leading expert on the effects of social, psychological, and cultural determinants of health for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and racial/ethnic minorities will integrate findings and offer insights into directions for future research

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:
  • Learn how the minority stress model can be examined with contemporary suicide models to better understand suicide risk in sexual minorities.
  • Learn about risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in sexual minority adolescents of color.
  • Learn how structural equation modeling (SEM) can help us better conceptualize the minority stress model.
  • Learn how homophobic microaggressions impact suicidal ideation among sexual minorities.
  • Learn how negative self-evaluations contribute to the development of suicidal desire and suicide risk in sexual minorities.