Both LGBQ sexual identity and traumatic experiences in childhood are linked to a heightened risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours, US researchers say.
Teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or are questioning their sexual identity are also more likely than their heterosexual peers to have had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in childhood, the study team reports online in Journal of Adolescent Health.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults and there is evidence that suicide rates are increasing in this age group, they write.
“It is imperative that we identify adolescent populations at greatest risk to guide our prevention efforts,” lead author Kristen Clements-Nolle, of the School of Community Health Sciences of the University of Nevada, Reno, said.
“Furthermore, cumulative exposure to ACEs greatly increased suicide risk behaviours among sexual minority adolescents,” Clements-Nolle added.
The LGB and questioning students were more likelyto be exposed to adverse childhood events
To examine the relationships among teen sexual identity, childhood trauma and suicide risk, Clements-Nolle and colleagues enrolled approximately 5,000 students from 97 high schools in Nevada to fill out questionnaires and answer questions about their sexual identity and exposure to adverse childhood experiences.
Adverse childhood events included such things as being physically forced to have sex with someone, or being beaten, kicked or physically hurt by an adult. In addition, students were asked about their exposure to domestic violence, mental illness and substance abuse by family members.
Participants were also asked if they had ever seriously considered suicide during the past year and how many times had they attempted suicide during that time.
About 10 per cent of students self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB), and nearly five per cent were not sure of their sexual identity. Just over 85 per cent of students identified as heterosexual.
The LGB and questioning students were more likely to be exposed to adverse childhood events. More than half of LGB and 40 per cent of questioning students reported at least two ACEs, compared to about one-quarter of heterosexual students reporting the same exposure.
For all students, the greater the number of adverse experiences they reported, the greater was their risk of having had suicidal thoughts during the past year.
Sexual identity was also linked to risk of suicidal thinking. Compared with heterosexual students with no ACEs, LGB and questioning students overall were three times more likely to report suicidal thoughts.