Characteristics of Stress and Suicidal Ideation in the Disclosure of Sexual Orientation among Young French LGB Adults.

Elodie Charbonnier,Florence Dumas,Pierluigi Graziani,Adam Chesterman

doi:10.3390/ijerph15020290

Abstract

Background: Lesbians, gays, and bisexual people (LGB) present high levels of suicidal ideation. The disclosure of sexual orientation is a stressful experience which presents a high suicide risk. Research has not paid sufficient attention to stress during this disclosure in order to understand suicide among LGB people. The aims of this study were to investigate: (1) the characteristics of stress during this revelation, more precisely cognitive appraisal, emotions, and coping; and (2) associations between these characteristics and suicidal ideation. Method: A total of 200 LGB young adults answered the “Stressful situation assessment questionnaire”, focusing on the most stressful disclosure of sexual orientation they have ever experienced. Results: Avoidance coping is a good predictor of suicidal ideation, and mediates the association between primary appraisal (risk “Harm myself and others”) and suicidal ideation. Conclusions: Our study illustrates the need to better understand stress during the disclosure of sexual orientation to prevent and care for suicide risk among LGB young adults.

Highlights

Lesbians, gays, and bisexual people (LGB) present higher levels of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide than heterosexuals [1,2,3,4,5]
This study investigated the role of stress as one underlying factor that is likely to contribute to suicidal ideation
The “minority stress model” (MSM) [13,14,15] is relevant for understanding high stress levels in LGB people. This model postulates that people from stigmatized social categories are more exposed to stress because they are exposed to specific stressors described as “minority stress” [16]

Summary

Introduction

Gays, and bisexual people (LGB) present higher levels of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide than heterosexuals [1,2,3,4,5]. LGB people are exposed to high levels of stress, and the multiplication of stressful experiences such as prejudice, rejection, or discrimination [11] can lead to suicidal ideation [12]. The “minority stress model” (MSM) [13,14,15] is relevant for understanding high stress levels in LGB people. Gays, and bisexual people (LGB) present high levels of suicidal ideation. The disclosure of sexual orientation is a stressful experience which presents a high suicide risk. Conclusions: Our study illustrates the need to better understand stress during the disclosure of sexual orientation to prevent and care for suicide risk among LGB young adults

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion