Suicide Attempts in Association With Traditional and Electronic Bullying Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority U.S. High School Students

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare the association between bullying (traditional, electronic, and both) and suicide attempt in heterosexual and lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) U.S. high school students. MethodsData were obtained from 2015–2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. ResultsNearly 25% of students reported experiencing bullying. Approximately 5.9% of heterosexual and 25.7% of LGB students attempted suicide. Heterosexual students who experienced either traditional or electronic bullying had a higher risk of attempting suicide (1.54 [95% confidence interval 1.19–1.98] and 1.64 [1.23–2.19], respectively). The associations were similar but weaker among LGB students (1.49 [1.08–2.04] and 1.43 [.90–2.27], respectively). Students who experienced both forms of bullying had the highest prevalence of suicide attempt, but the interaction was not statistically significant. ConclusionsLGB students had higher rates of both suicide attempts and experiencing bullying. Traditional and electronic bullying are not synergistic in the risk of attempting suicide, although each form increases that risk.