Associations of Discrimination, Suicide Ideation Severity and Attempts, and Depressive Symptoms Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

Abstract

Abstract. We examined the unique associations among discrimination, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and depressive symptoms in a sample of sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth as well as interpersonal mediators of these associations. Participants included 94 SGM youth ( Mage = 18; SD = 2.88) recruited from SGM-specific drop-in centers. We used mediation analyses to test the mediating effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness on the associations between discrimination and suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and depressive symptoms, accounting for childhood trauma and sociodemographic variables (age, gender identity, race, and sexual orientation). Within our nonclinical community sample of SGM youth, 49% reported a lifetime suicide attempt, 84% reported current suicide ideation, and 82% reported current depressive symptoms. Experiencing discrimination was associated with greater likelihood of suicide attempts and depressive symptoms, and greater perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, over and above the effects of childhood trauma and sociodemographic variables. Discrimination was indirectly associated with greater depressive symptoms through perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, and with greater severity of suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness. Findings suggest clinicians should assess for discrimination and include a focus on perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness as targets of intervention for suicide and depression.

Differential Experiences of Mental Health among Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth in Colorado

“…In a national crosssectional survey of over 25,000 LGBTQ young people researchers found that TGD young people were more than two times as likely to experience recent depressive mood compared to their cisgender LGBQ peers [39]. Finally, within a community-based nonclinical sample (n = 94), 82% of respondents reported current depressive symptoms [42]. Notably, there is wide variation in measurement of depression in these studies; not all current research administers assessment in ways that can be interpreted as clinical diagnosis or of clinical significance.…”

A systematic review and meta‐analysis investigating the impact of childhood adversities on the mental health of LGBT+ youth

“…Eighteen studies had data that allowed meta-analysis, comprising 21,781 LGBT+ individuals (Attebery et al, 2020;Battalen et al, 2020;Button, 2016;Byrd, 2015;Donahue et al, 2017;Duarte et al, 2018;Garaigordobil & Larrain, 2020;Jones et al, 2017;Kurki-Kangas et al, 2019;Li et al, 2019;Lowry et al, 2020.;McNamee et al, 2008;Mittleman, 2019;Peters et al, 2020;Price Feeney et al, 2018.;Veale et al, 2017;Zhao et al, 2020).…”

“…INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF CHILDHOOD ADVERSITIES ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF LGBT+ YOUTHT A B L E 1 (Continued) prevalence of LGBT+ youth meeting criteria for an identifiable mental health problem ranged from 8.3%(Donahue et al, 2017) to 82%(Battalen et al, 2020) and were most common in LGBT+ youth who had experienced ACEs.…”

It’s Complicated: Everyday Discrimination Across the Transition Into Adulthood

“…People may attribute unfair treatment in their daily lives for a variety of reasons including but not limited to their weight or other aspects of physical appearance (Sutin et al, 2016); racialized group membership and ethnicity (Seaton et al, 2010; Unger, 2018); gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation (Wyman Battalen et al, 2021; Fonseca de Freitas et al, 2021); and socio-economic status (Jokela & Fuller-Rowell, 2022Jokela & Fuller‐Rowell, 2022). Yet, a person experiences these multiple social statuses and accompanying discrimination related to these statuses at the same time, not separately (Grollman, 2012).…”