The role of adverse childhood experiences in suicide among sexual minority undergraduate students

Abstract

This study explores the rates and odds of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their relationship to suicide attempts in a sample of undergraduate students (n = 924, 71.6% women), comparing lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth to their heterosexual counterparts. Using propensity score matching, we matched 231 sexual minority and 603 heterosexual participants at a ratio of 1:3, based on gender, age, socioeconomic status, and religious beliefs. Sexual minority participants reported a significantly higher ACE score (M = 2.70 vs. 1.85; t = 4.93; p <.001; d = .391) and higher rates of all but one type of ACEs than their heterosexual counterparts. They also reported a higher prevalence and risk of suicide attempts (33.3% vs. 11.8% respectively, odds ratio = 3.73; p < .001). In logistic regression analysis, sexual minority status, emotional abuse and neglect, bias attack, having a household member with mental health problems, bullying and cyberbullying were significantly associated with suicide attempts.