Examining suicide risk in sexual and gender minority youth: A descriptive observational study on depressive symptoms, social support and self-esteem.
Pablo Gómez-Chica, Lola Rueda-Ruzafa, Adrián Aparicio-Mota and 4 others
PMID 38533544WHAT IT FOUND
Sexual minority youth had higher suicide-risk scores than heterosexual cisgender peers.
Bullying, anxiety and depression were also linked to suicide risk, while family support was lower.
Key findings
01Sexual minority participants had higher suicide-risk scores than heterosexual cisgender participants: Plutchik mean 5.44 versus 3.56 and Paykel mean 2.1 versus 1.18.
02The multivariable analysis found significant associations with suicide risk or lifetime suicide attempts for sexual orientation, bullying, anxiety and depression, but not for age or gender.
03Family support was lower in sexual minority participants (19.74 versus 22.23), while support from friends and others did not differ significantly.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The authors note social desirability bias in questionnaire responses, so participants may not have answered completely honestly. The authors note that responses were limited to heterosexual cisgender, bisexual and homosexual participants, so the results may not apply to other sexual or gender identities. This was a descriptive observational survey, not an intervention trial; the authors call for future randomised clinical trials of intervention programs.
Declared interests
No external funding. The authors declare no competing interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that bullying, anxiety or depression caused suicide risk, or that self-esteem and family support programmes will reduce it. This was an observational survey of self-reported associations, not a tested intervention.