1. Predictors of Suicidal Ideation and Attempts among LGBTQ Adolescents: The Roles of Help-seeking Beliefs, Peer Victimization, Depressive Symptoms, and Drug Use.
- Author
-
Hatchel, Tyler, Ingram, Katherine M., Mintz, Sasha, Hartley, Chelsey, Valido, Alberto, Espelage, Dorothy L., and Wyman, Peter
- Subjects
- *
SUICIDAL ideation , *SUICIDAL behavior of LGBTQ+ teenagers , *SUICIDE risk factors , *AGGRESSION (Psychology) , *MENTAL depression , *BULLYING , *SUBSTANCE abuse , *LGBTQ+ people , *HIGH school students , *LOGISTIC regression analysis , *HELP-seeking behavior , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *ADOLESCENCE - Abstract
Objectives: Suicide is a leading causes of death for adolescents, and is a developmental period with the highest rates of suicide attempts. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth are a high-risk population for suicidal ideations and behaviors when compared with their non-LGBTQ counterparts. However, a dearth of research exists on the protective factors for suicidal ideation and attempts specifically within the LGBTQ population. The current study proposes a model in which peer victimization, drug use, depressive symptoms, and help-seeking beliefs predict suicidal ideation and attempts among a statewide sample of LGBTQ adolescents. Methods: Among 4867 high school students in 20 schools, 713 self-identified as LGBTQ and had higher rates of attempts and ideation than their non-LBGTQ peers. Two logistic regression analyses were used to predict suicidal ideation and attempts among the 713 LGBTQ students (M = age 15 years). Results: Results indicated that intentions to use drugs, peer victimization, and elevated depressive symptoms predicted both suicidal ideation and attempts. Additionally, help-seeking beliefs predicted suicidal attempts but not ideation, while the interaction of help-seeking beliefs and depressive symptoms significantly predicted suicidal ideation. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of increasing access to effective treatment services for depression and promoting safe and accepting school and community cultures for LGBTQ youth in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF