The Relationship Between Queer Identity, Social Connection, School Bullying, and Suicidal Ideations Among Youth of Color

Abstract

Queer youth, and specifically queer youth of color (YOC), identified in this study as Hispanic/Latinx and African American/Black youth, disproportionately experience suicidal ideations (SI). The nexus of limited social support and school bullying exacerbates the effect on SI among these youth. Using data from a larger Drug-Free Communities grant initiative among YOC (N = 687; 65.6% youth aged 16–18 years; 53% female; 16% queer [i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer]) this study examined: (1) the mediating role of school bullying between queer identity status and SI and (2) both the mediating and moderating roles of family, social supports, and school importance on the initial mediating model. Findings from this study provide implications that may help prepare counselors to intervene across contexts.

Keywords:

• Queer
• youth of color
• bullying
• suicidal ideation
• social connection

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Center for Substance Abuse Prevention [SPO22019-01].