Symposia
LGBQT+
Cindy J. Chang, PsyM
Student
Rutgers University
Philadelphia, PA
Kate Dorrell, B.S.
PhD Student
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
North Chicago, Illinois
Brian Feinstein, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
Associate Professor
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
N. Chicago, Illinois
Blaire Ehret, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of California San Diego
La Jolla, California
Edward Selby, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Rutgers University
Piscataway, NJ
Background: The interpersonal theory of suicide has been widely studied in the general population, but no study has tested all three components (perceived burdensomeness [PB], thwarted belongingness [TB], and acquired capability [AC]) in relation to suicide attempts (SA) in sexual minorities. To address this gap, we examined demographic differences in these factors and their associations with SA among sexual minority young adults.
Methods: 784 sexual minority young adults ages 18-29 (62% White, 12% Latinx, 10% Asian, 8% Black, 7% Biracial/Multiracial; 43% cisgender men, 42% cisgender women, 15% transgender/gender diverse [TGD]) completed an online survey. Pearson’s correlations and ANOVAs were used to examine demographic differences in continuous variables, and generalized linear regression with a negative binomial distribution was used to examine demographic differences in SA (a count outcome) and the associations between PB, TB, AC, and SA (controlling for demographics).
Results: PB (b = .04, SE = .01, p < .001), TB (b = .03, SE = .004, p < .001), and AC (b = .03, SE = .01, p < .001) were each positively associated with SA; only PB (b = .05, SE = .01, p < .001) and AC (b = .03, SE = .01, p = .004) remained significant when all three were entered simultaneously. There were no significant two- or three-way interactions (ps > .19). We also found several significant demographic differences. Greater age was associated with lower PB (r = -.09, p < .01). Bisexual people reported higher AC (F(1,792) = 5.83, p = .02). Cisgender men reported greater AC (F(2,791) = 5.67, p = .004) and fewer SA (EMM = .39, SE = .04) than cisgender women (EMM = .77, SE = .06, p < .001) and TGD individuals (EMM = .70, SE = .10, p = .004), whereas TGD individuals reported greater PB than cisgender men and women (F(2,791) = 5.22, p = .01). Asian sexual minorities reported fewer SA (EMM = .37, SE = .08) than all other racial/ethnic groups (ps = .01 to .04) except for Black sexual minorities (p = .40). There were no racial/ethnic differences in PB, TB, or AC (ps > .08).
Discussion: Findings suggest the interpersonal theory of suicide is useful for understanding SA in sexual minority young adults, with PB and AC being particularly important. Higher PB among TGD individuals may explain why they reported more SA. Compared to cisgender men, other gender groups exhibited elevated suicide risk despite having relatively lower levels of AC, which is thought to confer higher suicide risk. Finally, Asian sexual minorities may be at lower risk for SA than other racial/ethnic groups, but this is not explained by known risk factors.