Evaluation of sexual minority identity as a moderator of the association between intimate partner violence and suicidal ideation and attempts among a national sample of youth.

Liesl A Nydegger,Katherine Quinn,Lyzette Blanco,Daniel Kreitzberg,C Nathan Marti,Andrew R Dalby

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0236880

Abstract

Sexual minority (SM) youth are at high risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) and suicidal ideation/attempts compared to their heterosexual peers. We examined whether SM identity enhanced the relationship between experiences of IPV and suicidal ideation/attempts. Weighted logistic regression models were run using the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. All main effects were significant; each SM identity and both physical and sexual IPV were significantly associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. The interaction between bisexual identity and physical IPV was significant for suicidal ideation; as physical IPV experiences increased, the difference between bisexual identity and heterosexual youth was non-significant. Findings suggest exploring trauma and suicidal ideation by aggregate groups and increasing support for SM youth in schools and communities.

Highlights

Youth who identify as sexual minorities (SM; i.e., lesbian, gay, and bisexual) are significantly more likely to experience intimate partner violence (IPV) [1,2,3,4]
Female youth had approximately 50% greater odds of reporting suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.64, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.40, 1.92, p < 0.001) and suicide attempts (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.96, p < 0.001)
Bisexual youth had over five times greater odds of reporting suicidal ideation (AOR = 5.12, 95% CI: 4.16, 6.30, p < 0.001) and four times greater odds to report attempting suicide (AOR = 4.08, 95% CI: 3.01, 5.55, p < 0.001) compared to their heterosexual peers

Summary

Introduction

Youth who identify as sexual minorities (SM; i.e., lesbian, gay, and bisexual) are significantly more likely to experience intimate partner violence (IPV) [1,2,3,4]. Experiencing IPV can lead to several adverse behavioral, physical, and mental health consequences. IPV can refer to either physical and/or sexual violence; physical IPV is defined as an intentional physical assault by a former or current partner and sexual IPV refers to forced sexual acts by a current or former partner [5]. Sexual minority identity moderates IPV and suicidal ideation among youth preparation of the manuscript. Abacist Analytics, LLC provided support in the form of salary for one author (CNM), but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of this author is articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section

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