Suicide ideation among sexual minority youth: The effects of bullying and possible protective factors

Résumé

Sexual minority youth (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning [LGBTQ]) continue to experience sizable physical and mental health disparities compared to their heterosexual peers. These range from anxiety, depression, suicidality, and lower self-esteem, to substance use. Such disparities have been connected to a range of precipitating factors such as higher rates of peer victimization or parental rejection. Among these disparities, suicidality remains especially concerning, whether ideation or attempts. The findings in the research literature underscore the continued need to identify factors that elevate suicidality risk. At the same time, recent advances have identified factors that buffer this risk. In this chapter, we review findings on suicidality among sexual minority youth while noting variability among subgroups of youth in this community; we consider a range of individual and contextual factors that underlie these disparities; and we note factors that attenuate suicidality risks among sexual minority youth. Finally, we note implications for future research, prevention, and intervention, as well as policies in this area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved) ADOLESCENT IDÉATION HOMOSEXUALITÉ BULLYING