Minority stressors and suicidal ideation in sexual and gender minority youth assigned female at birth: Prospective associations and racial differences

Abstract

Introduction: Suicidal ideation (SI) disproportionately affects sexual and gender minority (SGM) versus cisgender/heterosexual youth, likely due to the minority stressors (MS) they face. Research has shown cross-sectional associations between SGM MS and suicidality; however, few studies have used longitudinal data or examined racial differences in the effects of MS on SI. The current study tested whether MS prospectively predict next-year SI and whether race moderates these prospective associations.Method: Three hundred and sixty-nine Black, Latinx, and White SGM youth completed baseline measures of MS, SI, and demographics, and SI 6 and 12 months later.Results: Internalized stigma, microaggressions, and low support from family and from significant others demonstrated associations with next-year SI. When controlling for baseline SI, however, only low significant other support predicted next-year SI. Moderation analyses indicated that internalized stigma predicted SI for White, but not Black or Latinx, individuals and that lower friend support was associated with SI for Latinx, but not White or Black, individuals.Conclusions: Though minority stressors appear to raise risk for SI among SGM, effects may differ by race. Internalized stigma may be particularly influential for SI among White SGM whereas lack of support from friends may be most influential for SI among Latinx SGM youth.

Relationships between internalized stigma and depression and suicide risk among queer youth in the United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…One additional study ( 66 ) examined internalized self-stigma and its connection to suicide risk; however, their study purpose explicitly focused on understanding suicide risk among transgender youth. Two studies ( 54 , 58 ) observed suicidal ideation, both finding significant, positive correlations between general internalized queer stigma and suicidal thoughts over time. However, in one model, this relationship became non-significant when controlling for baseline suicidality and demographics in a gray literature publication ( 58 ).…”

“…Two studies ( 54 , 58 ) observed suicidal ideation, both finding significant, positive correlations between general internalized queer stigma and suicidal thoughts over time. However, in one model, this relationship became non-significant when controlling for baseline suicidality and demographics in a gray literature publication ( 58 ). This same study looked at the relationship between general internalized queer stigma and suicide plans over a year and did not find a statistically significant relationship between the two variables ( 58 ).…”

“…Three of the 4 suicide-risk related studies (75%) asked dichotomized questions related to suicidal thoughts over time (e.g., the last month or previous 6 months), and all 4 studies asked about suicide attempts (e.g., within the last 6 months, previous year, or over their lifetime). Two studies asked explicitly if suicide attempts were related to one's queer identity, and only 1 study asked about suicide plans ( 58 ).…”

“…A total of 4 studies examined internalized stigma and suicide risk in queer youth. Only 3 studies ( 54 , 58 , 69 ) examined the relationship between general internalized queer stigma and suicide risk, with varying outcomes related to suicide risk (e.g., suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempt). One additional study ( 66 ) examined internalized self-stigma and its connection to suicide risk; however, their study purpose explicitly focused on understanding suicide risk among transgender youth.…”

“…However, in one model, this relationship became non-significant when controlling for baseline suicidality and demographics in a gray literature publication ( 58 ). This same study looked at the relationship between general internalized queer stigma and suicide plans over a year and did not find a statistically significant relationship between the two variables ( 58 ). The 2 studies examining general internalized queer stigma and suicide attempt found that there was not a statistically significant association between general internalized queer stigma and suicide attempt; a similar relationship was found in the study only examining suicidality in transgender youth.…”