Explaining the Suicide Risk of Sexual Minority Individuals by Contrasting the Minority Stress Model with Suicide Models

Abstract

Many studies have found elevated levels of suicide ideation and attempts among sexual minority (homosexual and bisexual) individuals as compared to heterosexual individuals. The suicide risk difference has mainly been explained by minority stress models (MSTM), but the application of established suicidological models and testing their interrelations with the MSTM has been lacking so far. Therefore, we have contrasted two established models explaining suicide risk, the Interpersonal Psychological Theory (IPT) (Joiner, 2005) and the Clinical Model (CM) (Mann et al., 1999), with the MSTM (Meyer, 2003) in a Bavarian online-sample of 255 adult sexual minority participants and 183 heterosexual participants. The results suggested that the CM and the IPT model can well explain suicide ideation among sexual minorities according to the factors depression, hopelessness, perceived burdensomeness, and failed belongingness. The CM and the IPT were intertwined with the MSTM via internalized homophobia, social support, and early age of coming out. Early coming out was associated with an increased suicide attempt risk, perhaps through violent experiences that enhanced the capability for suicide; however, coming out likely changed to a protective factor for suicide ideation by enhanced social support and reduced internalized homophobia. These results give more insight into the development of suicide risk among sexual minority individuals and may be helpful to tailor minority-specific suicide prevention strategies.

Intervenable factors associated with suicide risk in transgender persons: a respondent driven sampling study in Ontario, Canada

“…These areas represent opportunities for future research. In general, suicide research regarding gender and sexual minorities has tended to overlook existing theoretical frameworks within suicidology [57], though they are not incompatible with other frameworks or methods. Future research with trans populations could draw on interdisciplinary theories as well as evidence from trans-specific and broader population research on suicide ideation and attempts to study mediated pathways.…”

Transgender youth and suicidal behaviors: Applying the interpersonal psychological theory of suicide

“…Consistent results were found in a more recent study of 876 lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents from three U.S. cities: Perceived burdensomeness was the critical mechanism for explaining depression and suicidal ideation (Baams, Grossman, & Russell, 2015). Finally, Plöderl and colleagues (2014) found that perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability were each significantly correlated with suicidal ideation among both sexual minority and heterosexual groups.…”

Psychological functioning in adolescents referred to specialist gender identity clinics across Europe: a clinical comparison study between four clinics

“…Social ostracism has been suggested to be an important risk factor that contributes to increased psychological distress in gender diverse adolescents [17–20]. Likewise, in sexual minorities, factors of social ostracism (such as peer exclusion or peer rejection) were linked to an elevated risk of self-harming thoughts and behaviours [21–23]. It is still unclear to what extent social ostracism influences the presence of psychopathology in gender diverse adolescents and what role contextual factors may play in their mental health.…”