Impact of Victimization on Risk of Suicide Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual High School Students in San Francisco

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 418 - 420
• Main Authors: Shields, John P., Ph.D., M.S.W, Whitaker, Kelly, M.P.A, Glassman, Jill, Ph.D., M.S.W, Franks, Heather M., M.A, Howard, Kelli, M.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; bisexuality; Bisexuality - psychology; Bisexuality - statistics & numerical data; Crime Victims - psychology; Crime Victims - statistics & numerical data; Data Collection; demography; depression; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Female; Homosexuality, Female - psychology; Homosexuality, Female - statistics & numerical data; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth; Logistic regression; Male; Medical sciences; Pediatrics; prevention; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Risk Factors; San Francisco - epidemiology; Sexual orientation; Sexual violence; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Substance abuse; substance use; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide; Suicide - psychology; Suicide - statistics & numerical data; Suicide risk; Victimization; Violence; Young people; Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS); San Francisco; USA, California, San Francisco; Suicide risk; Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth; Logistic regression; Victimization; Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS); Human; Grammar school; Homosexuality; Male; and bisexual youth; Bisexuality; Risk taking; Student; Suicide; Survey; Adolescent; Risk factor; Female; Lesbian; gay
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.07.009

Abstract Purpose This study investigated the association between sexual orientation, victimization, and suicide risk-related outcomes among youth attending public high schools in San Francisco. Methods Data from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed using bivariate and logistic regression methods for complex samples to examine the relationship between sexual orientation, victimization, and three suicide risk-related outcomes (sadness/depression, suicide planning, and attempting suicide) while controlling for demographics and substance use. Results Lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) youth reported significantly higher rates of substance use, victimization, and suicide risk-related outcomes than heterosexual youth. However, in the controlled regression models, victimization was a significant predictor of sadness/depression and suicide attempts, regardless of sexual orientation. There was a significant interaction effect between sexual orientation and victimization on suicide planning, with heterosexual youth more affected than LGB youth. Conclusions Results underscore the deleterious effect of victimization on suicide risk-related outcomes, regardless of sexual orientation. As LGB youth continue to report higher rates of victimization, effective violence prevention approaches must focus on reducing violence among youth, specifically LGB youth. Additional research should focus on identification of other factors that may help further explain elevated suicide risk among LGB youth.