Ilan H Meyer1, John R Blosnich2, Soon Kyu Choi1, Gary W Harper3, Stephen T Russell4. 1. The Williams Institute, School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. 2. Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. 3. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. 4. Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
Abstract
Purpose: We describe the timing of suicidality across the life span in three cohorts of sexual minority adults. We hypothesized that suicide attempts coincide with the coming out period and that younger sexual minority people, who grew up in more accepting social environments, will have lower prevalence of suicide attempts than older generations. Methods: A U.S. national probability sample of 1518 sexual minority adults in three age cohorts of 18-25, 34-41, and 52-59 years (collected 2016-2018) completed a self-administered survey. Results: Sexual minority adults had high prevalence of lifetime suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts, with the highest attempted suicides in the younger cohort (30.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 26.8-35.1) compared with the middle (23.7%, 95% CI = 19.0-29.1) and older (20.3%, 95% CI = 16.3-25.1) cohorts. There were no differences in suicidal behavior by race and ethnicity or between men and women, but gender nonbinary people had higher prevalence of suicidal thoughts. The mean age at suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts tracked closely with age of first realization of sexual minority identity. Most suicide attempts (60.9%) occurred within 5 years of realizing one's sexual minority identity, but a significant proportion of attempts (39.1%) occurred outside this range. Conclusion: Our findings are contrary to the hypothesis that younger cohorts of sexual minority people are at lower risk of suicidality.
Purpose: We describe the timing of suicidality across the life span in three cohorts of sexual minority adults. We hypothesized that suicide attempts coincide with the coming out period and that younger sexual minority people, who grew up in more accepting social environments, will have lower prevalence of suicide attempts than older generations. Methods: A U.S. national probability sample of 1518 sexual minority adults in three age cohorts of 18-25, 34-41, and 52-59 years (collected 2016-2018) completed a self-administered survey. Results: Sexual minority adults had high prevalence of lifetime suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts, with the highest attempted suicides in the younger cohort (30.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 26.8-35.1) compared with the middle (23.7%, 95% CI = 19.0-29.1) and older (20.3%, 95% CI = 16.3-25.1) cohorts. There were no differences in suicidal behavior by race and ethnicity or between men and women, but gender nonbinary people had higher prevalence of suicidal thoughts. The mean age at suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts tracked closely with age of first realization of sexual minority identity. Most suicide attempts (60.9%) occurred within 5 years of realizing one's sexual minority identity, but a significant proportion of attempts (39.1%) occurred outside this range. Conclusion: Our findings are contrary to the hypothesis that younger cohorts of sexual minority people are at lower risk of suicidality.
Entities:
Keywords:
coming out; sexual minority; suicidal ideation; suicide attempts
Authors: Brian Mustanski; Michelle Birkett; George J Greene; Mark L Hatzenbuehler; Michael E Newcomb Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-12-12 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Laura Kann; Tim McManus; William A Harris; Shari L Shanklin; Katherine H Flint; Barbara Queen; Richard Lowry; David Chyen; Lisa Whittle; Jemekia Thornton; Connie Lim; Denise Bradford; Yoshimi Yamakawa; Michelle Leon; Nancy Brener; Kathleen A Ethier Journal: MMWR Surveill Summ Date: 2018-06-15
Authors: Karen I Fredriksen-Goldsen; Hyun-Jun Kim; Susan E Barkan; Anna Muraco; Charles P Hoy-Ellis Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-06-13 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Michelle M Johns; Richard Lowry; Laura T Haderxhanaj; Catherine N Rasberry; Leah Robin; Lamont Scales; Deborah Stone; Nicolas A Suarez Journal: MMWR Suppl Date: 2020-08-21