Application of minority stress and the interpersonal theory of suicide in bisexual+ versus gay/lesbian young adults

Abstract

Introduction Sexual minority young adults are at increased risk for suicidal ideation (SI) compared with heterosexual young adults. Though several frameworks exist to explain the development of suicide risk, including the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS) and the Minority Stress Model, few studies have examined these frameworks simultaneously. This study examines these frameworks longitudinally among sexual minority young adults. Methods A total of 792 sexual minority young adults (50% bisexual+, 50% gay/lesbian) completed an online survey at baseline, one‐month follow‐up, and two‐month follow‐up assessing constructs related to IPTS, the minority stress model, and SI. Results Over half of our sample (52.9%) reported any SI at baseline. In the full sample, all types of minority stress at baseline were significantly associated with SI at two‐month follow‐up via perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) at one‐month follow‐up. In the bisexual+ subsample, all bisexual‐specific minority stressors at baseline were significantly associated with SI at two‐month follow‐up via PB at one‐month follow‐up; internalized binegativity was also associated with SI via TB. However, effects became non‐significant when controlling for previous levels of the mediators and outcome variables. Conclusion Both minority stress and IPTS are relevant for understanding suicide risk among sexual minority young adults.

Measurement invariance of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-15) across sexual orientation, gender identity, and race/ethnicity in a sample of sexual minority young adults.

“…However, it is difficult to compare these findings to prior studies because of differences in the ages of participants (Chang et al, 2021) and the operationalization of race/ethnicity (Pate & Anestis, 2020). Finally, we did not find differences between gay/lesbian and bi+ participants, which is consistent with some prior studies (Chang et al, 2021, 2022), but not others (Silva et al, 2015; Wolford-Clevenger et al, 2020). Although the current findings do not resolve the mixed evidence, they still suggest that group differences found in prior studies are unlikely to be due to differences in psychometric properties of the INQ-15.…”

“…We used baseline data from a longitudinal study of risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among sexual minority young adults (Chang et al, 2022). Participants were recruited in 2020 through Prolific, and required to meet the following criteria: (a) 18–29 years old; (b) identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual; (c) live in the U.S.; and (d) be able to read English.…”

“…Studies have demonstrated that perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are associated with suicidal ideation in this population (Chang et al, 2021;Pate & Anestis, 2020;Plöderl & Fartacek, 2005;Wolford-Clevenger et al, 2020), and that sexual minority people report greater perceived burdensomeness (Hill & Pettit, 2012;Pate & Anestis, 2020;Silva et al, 2015) and thwarted belongingness (Pate & Anestis, 2020;Silva et al, 2015) compared to heterosexual people. There is also evidence that bisexual people report greater perceived burdensomeness (Silva et al, 2015;Wolford-Clevenger et al, 2020) and thwarted belongingness (Wolford-Clevenger et al, 2020) compared to gay/lesbian people, but other studies have not found these differences (Chang et al, 2021(Chang et al, , 2022.…”

Aspects of positive identity buffer the longitudinal associations between discrimination and suicidal ideation among bi+ young adults.

“…Bisexual people often experience discrimination, rejection, and prejudice from both heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals, resulting in an experience termed "double discrimination" (Doan Feinstein & Dyar, 2017). Preliminary research provides support for the association between bisexualspecific discrimination and greater risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (Chang et al, 2022;Mereish et al, 2017a), as well as potential mechanisms underlying these associations (e.g., perceived burdensomeness, Chang et al, 2022;loneliness, Mereish et al, 2017b). In our prior work, we found that antibisexual discrimination at baseline was associated with suicidal ideation 2 months later, but the association became nonsignificant after accounting for suicidal ideation at baseline (Chang et al, 2022).…”

“…In sum, prior research has demonstrated that antibisexual discrimination is associated with suicidal ideation, but no prior studies have examined aspects of positive identity or dispositional resilience as buffers of these associations. Therefore, building on our prior work focused on the main effects of antibisexual discrimination on suicidal ideation (Chang et al, 2022), the present study examined whether aspects of positive identity (community, authenticity, and intimacy) and dispositional resilience buffered the longitudinal associations between antibisexual discrimination and suicidal ideation 1 and 2 months later. We hypothesized that higher levels of each positive identity factor would buffer the associations between antibisexual discrimination and suicidal ideation at 1- and 2-month follow-up, such that the associations would be weaker at higher levels of each positive identity factor.…”