Abstract
BackgroundDespite abundant theoretical evidence of higher rates of suicide among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths, little is known about the relationship between suicide and types of sexual intercourse experience in youths. This study examines the association between the type of intercourse experience and suicide risk outcomes (SROs: suicidal ideation, plans for suicide, suicidal attempts) from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey.MethodsWe analyzed cross-sectional data from 146,621 students aged 12–17 years for the years 2012 and 2013. We defined lesbian, gay, or bisexual youth as youths who engaged in a type of sexual intercourse (same-sex or both-sex intercourse). A chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between intercourse experience and SROs.ResultsThe results showed that the prevalence of suicidal ideation was higher among youths with same-sex intercourse experience (45.9% for females, 33.7% for males) than among youths with opposite-sex intercourse experience (42.2% for females, 23.8% for males) and those with no experience in intercourse (21.0% for females, 12.7% for males). After adjusting for revealed risk factors that were associated with suicide risks, among males, suicide risks based on intercourse experience seemed to increase in the following order: no experience in sexual intercourse, opposite-sex, same-sex, and then both-sexes sexual intercourse experience. Same- and both-sexes intercourse related SROs are strongly linked to violence (being physically assaulted, threatened, or bullied) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV infection. Those having no sexual intercourse experience showed the least probability of suicide risks among youths.ConclusionThe SROs of youths with same-sex or both-sex intercourse experience had strong associations with gender (males), violence, and STDs. Therefore, school educators must continue to advocate for and to implement LGB inclusive policies and programs in order to promote safe and supportive learning environments where all students are protected from health risk behaviors.
Highlights
Despite abundant theoretical evidence of higher rates of suicide among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths, little is known about the relationship between suicide and types of sexual intercourse experience in youths
The associations between type of sexual intercourse and suicide risk outcomes (SROs) In unadjusted analyses examining lesbian, gay, or bisexual youth defined by type of sexual intercourse, except for suicide ideation among females, we found that most youths with same-sex intercourse and both-sex intercourse compared with opposite-sex intercourse had increased odds of all SROs, with the odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 2.27 (95% confidence interval [Confidence interval (CI)] = 1.66– 3.09) for plans of suicide among females with same-sex intercourse to 2.58 for suicidal attempts among males with same-sex intercourse
Youths with sexual intercourse experience showed a higher association with outcomes for the suicide risk than youths who had no intercourse experience
Summary
Despite abundant theoretical evidence of higher rates of suicide among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths, little is known about the relationship between suicide and types of sexual intercourse experience in youths. This study examines the association between the type of intercourse experience and suicide risk outcomes (SROs: suicidal ideation, plans for suicide, suicidal attempts) from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. LGB youths experience stress and depression during the formation of their sexual identity They have been reported to demonstrate suicidal attempts 2–3 times more often than heterosexual youths [4, 5]. We assessed the direct effects of suicide risk outcomes (SROs: suicidal ideation, plans for suicide, suicidal attempts) due to type of sexual intercourse experience while controlling for other confounders known to affect SROs among youths. The objective of this study was to analyze and interpret the association between the prevalence of youths with sexual intercourse experience and SROs, by using the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) database from the years 2012 and 2013
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