Interpersonal trauma and discriminatory events as predictors of suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injury in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons.

Abstract

Recent research suggests that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) persons are at greater risk for mental health problems, including suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injury, than heterosexuals. However, few studies have investigated factors that may be linked to this increased risk. This study investigated interpersonal violence, victimization, and discriminatory events as possible predictors of suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injury in a sample of sexual minorities (i.e., a GLBT sample). Participants were 1,126 self-identified gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender (GLBT) individuals who responded to an Internet-based survey. Results indicated that both experiences of interpersonal trauma and sexual discrimination were associated with increased likelihoods of engaging in suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injury. In addition, participants at the greatest risk were those experiencing high levels of both interpersonal trauma and sexual discrimination. Clinical implications of these results are discussed.

Physical and/or Sexual Abuse Is Associated with Increased Psychological and Emotional Distress Among Transgender Women

“…8 Another study of 135 trans women found that those who reported interpersonal trauma and discriminatory life events were 29.9% more likely to engage in self-injurious behavior, and 34.8% had attempted suicide. 9 These findings, though not denoting causal relationships, demonstrate consistent statistical correlation between experienced physical and/or sexual abuse and negative psychological outcomes among trans women.…”

Drivers of Disparity: Differences in Socially Based Risk Factors of Self-injurious and Suicidal Behaviors Among Sexual Minority College Students

“…First, our results show that sexual minority status is not an independent risk factor for suicide attempts among sexual minorities, rather actual conference of risk likely comes through socially-based stressors – a finding similar to a recent study of sexual minority adults by House and colleagues. 20 It is clear that, given higher prevalence of suicidal behaviors, suicide prevention and outreach efforts need to be tailored and targeted to sexual minority students. However, at the same time, outreach should focus on actual, mutable risk factors for suicide that unfortunately happen to occur disproportionately more frequently among sexual minorities (e.g., physical assault).…”

“…A recent study by House et al found that interpersonal trauma and discrimination were both independently and synergistically associated with self-injurious behavior and suicide attempts among a sample of sexual minority adults. 20 Silenzio and colleagues found that depression and drug use were associated with suicide ideation among a representative sample of young adult sexual minorities, but that these risk factors did not significantly predict attempts as they did for heterosexuals. 21 In spite of findings among adolescents that demonstrate a relationship between victimization and suicidal behavior 18, 19, 22 , a study of mostly sexual minority young adults recruited from gay community organizations found that victimization was not statistically significantly associated with either ideation or attempt.…”

The Effects of Empathy on Disparagement Humor

“…Finally, GLBPQ people have an increased risk of nonsuicidal self-injury (Almeida et al, 2009;House, Van Horn, Coppeans, & Stepleman, 2011;King et al, 2008;Walls, Laser, Nickels, & Wisnecki, 2010). Nonsuicidal self-injury has been less extensively studied than suicidality, but studies have shown that GLBPQ young adults report up to twice the rate of nonsuicidal self-injury as their heterosexual peers, and GLBPQ youth report up to three times the rate (Walls, Laser, et al, 2010).…”

“…Nonsuicidal self-injury has been less extensively studied than suicidality, but studies have shown that GLBPQ young adults report up to twice the rate of nonsuicidal self-injury as their heterosexual peers, and GLBPQ youth report up to three times the rate (Walls, Laser, et al, 2010). Minority stress and experiences of discrimination significantly predict nonsuicidal self-injury (House et al, 2011;Walls, Laser, et al, 2010). Specifically, participants who reported discrimination, depression, or attempting suicide in the past year were 2.3, 3, and 10 times more likely to cut themselves, respectively (Walls, Laser, et al, 2010).…”