The role of parental and friend’s support preventing suicide among French sexual minority adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: French sexual minority adolescents are at a higher risk for suicide than their heterosexual peers. However, little is known on the role of parental and friend support in French lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth. The aim of this study was to research the role of parental and friend’s support in preventing suicide attempts among LGB adolescents in France.Methods: Data was drawn from a French cross-sectional study entitled “Portrait d’Adolescents”. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate and identify associated factors of suicide attempt in the whole sample, LGB and heterosexual subgroups. Results: An anonymous self-questionnaire was filled in by 14,265 French adolescents aged 13 to 20 in 2013. Among them, 637 (4.47%) identified as LGB. Attempted suicide was independently associated with sexual orientation (30.7% vs 10.6%; OR=2.04 [1.62-2.56]; p<0.0001). Both parental and friend’s support appeared to be a protective function in suicide attempts among the heterosexuals (OR=0.52 [0.45-0.60] and OR=0.75 [0.61-0.93]), whereas only parental support was significant in the LGB group (OR=0.51 [0.31-0.82]), independently of other variables. Conclusions: French LGB adolescents have a higher risk for suicide attempts than their heterosexual peers. Parental support was reconfirmed as a strong protective factor for suicide attempt among sexual minority adolescents. Policy Implications: The prevention efforts might be achieved by identifying within-group differences among French adolescents with different sexual orientations. The supportive role of family members should be strengthened. Positive resources and healthy support systems may literally be the effective prevention of suicide attempt.