Background: Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among adolescents and nonsuicidal self-harm occurs in 13%–45% of individuals within... » More

Background: Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among adolescents and nonsuicidal self-harm

occurs in 13%–45% of individuals within this age group, making these phenomena major

public health concerns. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth particularly are at risk

for engaging in these behaviors. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about the specif?c risk factors

associated with suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors in the population.

Purpose: This study provides a longitudinal evaluation of the relative contributions of general and

LGBT-specif?c risk factors as well as protective factors to the occurrence of suicidal ideation and

self-harm in an ethnically diverse sample of LGBT youth.

Methods: A community sample of 246 LGBT youth (aged 16–20 years) was followed prospectively

over f?ve time points at regular 6-month intervals. Participants completed a baseline structured

interview assessing suicide attempt history and questionnaires measuring gender nonconformity,

impulsivity, and sensation-seeking. At follow-up assessments, participants completed a structured

interview assessing self-harm and questionnaires for suicidal ideation, hopelessness, social support,

and LGBT victimization. Data were collected from 2007 to 2011, and HLM analyses were conducted

in 2011.

Results: A history of attempted suicide (p=0.05); impulsivity (p=0.01); and prospective LGBT

victimization (p=0.03) and low social support (p=0.02) were associated with increased risk for

suicidal ideation. Suicide attempt history (p<0.01); sensation-seeking (p=0.04); female gender

(p<0.01); childhood gender nonconformity (p<0.01); and prospective hopelessness (p<0.01) and

victimization (p<0.01) were associated with greater self-harm.

Conclusions: General and LGBT-specif?c risk factors both uniquely contribute to likelihood of

suicidal ideation and self-harm in LGBT youth, which may, in part, account for the higher risk of

these phenomena observed in this population.

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