The relationship between social support and suicide risk in a national sample of ethnically diverse sexual minority women

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relationship between three types of social support and suicidal ideation and lifetime attempts among a national sample of ethnically diverse sexual minority women (SMW). Participants (N = 150) completed measures of social support and suicidal ideation/attempts. After controlling for socioeconomic status, social support explained 12.3% of the variance in past suicidal ideation and 10.7% in lifetime suicide attempts. Social support from family and significant other were both inversely associated with suicidal ideation, and social support from family inversely with lifetime attempts. Interventions that strengthen family relationships could be a buffer of suicidality in this population.

KEYWORDS:

• Bisexual
• family
• lesbian
• suicide

Funding

The authors acknowledge funding from the National Center for Research Resources (UL1TR000058).

Disclosures

There are no reported conflicts of interest.