Sexual identity modifies the association between bullying and suicide planning among adolescents with same-sex sexual partners

Abstract

Heterosexual adolescents with same-sex sexual partners may be at increased risk for psychological distress from victimization; this may lead to suicidality. We tested if sexual identity modified the association between bullying at school and suicide planning among adolescents with the same-sex sexual partners. We sampled 924 youth with same-sex sexual partners from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, testing the association between bullying and suicide planning using log-binomial regression with sexual identity interactions. Sexual identity modified this association, with the greatest association among heterosexual participants (PR = 4.01, 95% CI 2.60–6.18). Anti-homophobia messaging and intervention programs that target these youth may be needed.

Keywords:

• Bullying
• identity
• LGB
• sexuality
• suicide

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the University of Maryland, College Park, School of Public Health, where this research was conducted.

Disclaimer

This study was a secondary analysis using the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS). Data for the 2015 YRBS were collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Disclosure statement

No competing financial interests exist for any of the authors. Each of the authors confirms that this article neither has been published nor is simultaneously being considered for publication elsewhere. Each named author has significantly contributed to the underlying research and drafting this article.