Transgender youth and suicidal behaviors: Applying the interpersonal psychological theory of suicide

ABSTRACT

The interpersonal psychological theory of suicide (IPTS) was used to examine suicidal thoughts and behaviors among 129 transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth. Youth were categorized according to their gender identities: female to male (FTM), male to female (MTF), female to different gender (FTDG), and male to different gender (MTDG). Higher percentages of suicidal ideation were reported by FTDG and FTM youth; higher percentages of suicide attempts were reported by FTDG and MTDG youth. Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness were significantly related to suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempts. Experiences of painful, provocative, and harmful events and acquired capability significantly predicted suicide attempts. The findings support IPTS in explaining suicidal behaviors among TGNC youth. Implications for prevention and intervention efforts are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Female to different gender (FTDG)
• female to male (FTM)
• gender nonconforming
• interpersonal psychological theory of suicide (IPTS)
• male to female (MTF)
• male to different gender (MTDG)
• suicidal ideation
• suicide attempt
• transgender
• youth
• thwarted belongingness

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the site coordinators, staff of the community organizations, and leaders of college groups who cooperated in recruiting participants. Molly Greenberg and Raymond Moody, the study's coordinators, are specifically thanked for their organization and management skills that helped the project begin and for their design skills in making the survey packets user friendly. The authors also thank Emily Green for her invaluable assistance during the manuscript revision process. The authors express their gratitude to the study's participants for sharing their experiences.

Disclosures

This research uses data from the Risk and Protective Factors for Suicide among Sexual Minority Youth study designed by Arnold H. Grossman and Stephen T. Russell and supported by Award Number R01MH091212 from the National Institute of Mental Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Mental Health.

Notes

1. We have become aware there are updated versions of the INQ, but they were not in the published literature when data collection for the present study began; for details, see Van Orden, Cukrowicz, Witte, & Joiner, 2012.

2. We have come aware that a more recent version of the scale exists containing 20 items; it was not in the published literature when data collection began for the current study (for details, see Smith, Wolford-Clevenger, Mandracchia, & Jahn 2013.).