The Relationship Between Suicide Risk and Sexual Orientation: Results of a Population-based Study

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 1998 May 16

PMID 9584034

Citations 102

Authors

G Remafedi

S French

M Story

M D Resnick

R Blum

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between sexual orientation and suicide risk in a population-based sample of adolescents.

Methods: Participants were selected from a cross-sectional, statewide survey of junior and senior public high school students. All males (n = 212) and females (n = 182) who described themselves as bisexual/homosexual were compared with 336 gender-matched heterosexual respondents on three outcome measures: suicidal ideation, intent, and self-reported attempts. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between sexual orientation and outcome measures with adjustment for demographic characteristics.

Results: Suicide attempts were reported by 28. 1 % of bisexual/homosexual males, 20.5% of bisexual/homosexual females, 14.5% of heterosexual females, and 4.2% of heterosexual males. For males, but not females, bisexual/homosexual orientation was associated with suicidal intent (odds ratio [OR] = 3.61 95% confidence interval [CI = 1.40, 9.36) and attempts (OR=7.10; 95% CI=3.05, 16.53).

Conclusions: There is evidence of a strong association between suicide risk and bisexuality or homosexuality in males.

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