The relationship between suicide risk and sexual orientation: results of a population-based study

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 88; no. 1; pp. 57 - 60
• Main Authors: Remafedi, G, French, S, Story, M, Resnick, M D, Blum, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Am Public Health Assoc 01.01.1998; American Public Health Association
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Bisexuality; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Gays & lesbians; Gender; Health surveys; Heterosexuality; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Males; Medical sciences; Minnesota; Odds Ratio; Population; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public health; Public schools; Quantitative psychology; Response rates; Risk Factors; School districts; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual orientation; Socioeconomic factors; Students; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts; Teenagers; USA; Minnesota; Human; Homosexuality; Sexuality; Sexual behavior; Risk factor; Sex; Bisexuality; Suicide; Epidemiology; Public health
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.88.1.57

This study examined the relationship between sexual orientation and suicide risk in a population-based sample of adolescents. Participants were selected from a cross-sectional, statewide survey of junior and senior public high school students. All males (n = 212) and females (n = 182) who described themselves as bisexual/homosexual were compared with 336 gender-matched heterosexual respondents on three outcome measures: suicidal ideation, intent, and self-reported attempts. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between sexual orientation and outcome measures with adjustment for demographic characteristics. Suicide attempts were reported by 28. 1 % of bisexual/homosexual males, 20.5% of bisexual/homosexual females, 14.5% of heterosexual females, and 4.2% of heterosexual males. For males, but not females, bisexual/homosexual orientation was associated with suicidal intent (odds ratio [OR] = 3.61 95% confidence interval [CI = 1.40, 9.36) and attempts (OR=7.10; 95% CI=3.05, 16.53). There is evidence of a strong association between suicide risk and bisexuality or homosexuality in males.