School-Based Protective Factors Related to Suicide for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescents

Whitaker, Kelly; Shapiro, Valerie B.; Shields, Joel

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.09.008

Cited by 63 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Third, online resources (eg, online sex education websites) should be integrated to provide more relevant information and education, which may help to foster a more tolerant and open atmosphere towards sexual minorities. Fourth, families and communities should provide social support (eg, Gay–Straight Alliance groups, and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) to promote acceptance of sexual minority orientation 53 and reduce pressure from traditional values and norms embedded in Confucianism (eg, filial piety and family responsibilities). 51 Fifth, practitioners (eg, psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and social workers) should specifically focus on the group that is at particularly high risk of suicidality (ie, BSA adolescents) with a weaker collective identity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual minority status and suicidal behaviour among Chinese adolescents: a nationally representative cross-sectional study

Huang

Guo

et al. 2018

BMJ Open

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ObjectivesSuicidality among sexual minority adolescents has generated worldwide concern in recent decades, and previous Western studies have demonstrated that sexual minority status is associated with adolescent suicidality. However, whether this association exists in Chinese adolescents remains largely unknown. This study aimed to estimate the associations between sexual minority status and suicidal behaviour among Chinese adolescents.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingA total of 506 high schools in 7 provinces of China.ParticipantsA total of 150 822 students in grades 7–12 who completed the questionnaires (response rate of 95.9%) were included.Main outcome measuresSuicidal ideation and suicide attempts were used to measure suicidal behaviour, and sexual attraction (opposite sex, same sex or both sex) was used as a measure for sexual minority status.ResultsOf the 150 822 adolescents analysed, 4.1% self-reported as sexual minorities and 17.3% were unsure. Compared with heterosexual and unsure adolescents, same-sex romantic attraction (SSA) and both-sex romantic attraction (BSA) adolescents reported a higher prevalence of past-year suicidal ideation (SSA: 21.6% for males and 30.4% for females; BSA: 34.7% for males and 42.3% for females) and suicide attempts (SSA: 6.9% for males and 8.9% for females; BSA: 12.2% for males and 10.9% for females). After adjustment for covariates, SSA and BSA adolescents were more likely to have past-year suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than their heterosexual and unsure peers. BSA adolescents reported the highest risk of suicidal ideation (males: adjusted OR (AOR) 2.42, 95% CI 2.03 to 2.88; females: AOR 2.61, 95% CI 2.41 to 2.82) and suicide attempts (males: AOR 3.83, 95% CI 2.85 to 5.14; females: AOR 2.59, 95% CI 2.19 to 3.06).ConclusionsOur study suggested that Chinese sexual minority adolescents were at increased risk of suicidality, and those with BSA had an especially high risk in this population. These findings emphasised the urgent need to develop targeted interventions to effectively address suicide-related problems among Chinese sexual minority adolescents.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual minority status and suicidal behaviour among Chinese adolescents: a nationally representative cross-sectional study

Huang

Guo

et al. 2018

BMJ Open

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“…However, the few studies that do exist are promising. For example, several school characteristics have been associated with lower risk for suicidal ideation among same-sex attracted youth, such as having a supportive teacher and a strong sense of school community (Russell & Toomey, 2013;Whitaker, Shapiro, & Shields, 2016). Further, high social support has been linked to lower LGB youth distress (McConnell, Birkett, & Mustanksi, 2015;Snapp, Watson, Russell, Diaz, & Ryan, 2015), and, in particular, parent support is associated with lower risk for suicidal behavior (Ryan, Russell, Huebner, Diaz, & Sanchez, 2010).…”

Section: Risk and Protection Of Suicidal Behaviors By Sexual Orientationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Developmental Assets Protective Against Suicidal Behavior? Differential Associations by Sexual Orientation

Toomey

Syvertsen

Flores

2018

J Youth Adolescence

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Sexual orientation disparities in suicide behavior are well-documented. Yet, few studies have examined how developmental assets-key values, self-perceptions, skills, relationships, and opportunities that have been identified as the building blocks of positive youth development-are associated with suicide behaviors, particularly among sexual minority youth. This study examined concurrent associations between young people's developmental assets and suicidal behavior by sexual orientation using a large sample of 116,925 in-school U.S. adolescents (ages 11 to 19, M = 14.74, SD = 1.78). Most of the sample identified as only heterosexual (90.2%); 5% identified as mostly heterosexual, 3.5% as bisexual, 0.6% as mostly lesbian/gay, and 0.7% as only lesbian/gay. Most participants identified as White, non-Latina/o (62.6%) and as cisgender female (50.3%) or cisgender male (47.8%). Compared to only heterosexual adolescents, youth with all other sexual orientations reported lower levels of internal and external developmental assets except for nonsports extracurricular activity participation and social justice values. Identifying as a racial/ethnic minority, particularly for only heterosexual adolescents, and specifically as Latina/o for sexual minority adolescents was associated with greater risk for suicidal behavior. Further, identifying as a gender minority exacerbated risk for suicidal behavior. Relatedly, when youth reported feeling unsafe with their family, or in their school or neighborhood, they were at greater risk for suicidal behavior, regardless of sexual orientation. Feeling hopeful was associated with lower risk for suicidal behavior for all youth. Regardless of sexual orientation, planning and decision-making skills were associated with lower risk and social-emotional skills were associated with heightened

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“…Previous research has shown that protective school environments provide LGBTQ+ students with significant benefits [48]. Connectedness at school is associated with caring interpersonal relationships, engaged participation in activities, better academic outcomes, and lower suicidal ideation among this group of students [12,49,50]. Policies that curtail victimization in schools have also proven to have positive outcomes such as fewer incidences of suicide attempts and bullying [51,52].…”

Section: Better School Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategies for Schools to Prevent Psychosocial Stress, Stigma, and Suicidality Risks among LGBTQ+ Students

Madireddy¹,

Madireddy²

2020

EDUCATION

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As key centers for adolescent development, schools present sites for intervention ensuring the wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) students. Given mounting evidence on the association between LGBTQ+ identities, negative school climates, and disparities in mental health and suicidality, schools must maintain inclusive environments. This review focuses on strategies for schools to emerge as gateways to improved mental health and resilience among LGBTQ+ students. This study provides clear recommendations, including supporting anti-bullying policies, LGBTQ+-inclusive curricula, and safe spaces, for counselors, educators, school policy makers, and other stakeholders in school ecosystems to intervene professionally on behalf of LGBTQ+ students. The implications of this study help school counselors to be catalysts moving schools to better serve LGBTQ+ students.

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School-Based Protective Factors Related to Suicide for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescents

Abstract: Background: Research indicates that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents are three

Cited by 63 publications

References 27 publications

Sexual minority status and suicidal behaviour among Chinese adolescents: a nationally representative cross-sectional study

Sexual minority status and suicidal behaviour among Chinese adolescents: a nationally representative cross-sectional study

Are Developmental Assets Protective Against Suicidal Behavior? Differential Associations by Sexual Orientation

Strategies for Schools to Prevent Psychosocial Stress, Stigma, and Suicidality Risks among LGBTQ+ Students

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