Youth suicide risk and sexual orientation

D’Augelli, Grossman, and Sinclair Investigated Risk Factors for Major Suicide Attempts Among Gay, Bisexual, and Lesbian Youth

D’Augelli, Grossman, and Sinclair investigated risk factors for major suicide attempts among gay, bisexual, and lesbian youth. The report is related to three groups: “youth that said no suicide attempts , teenagers that reported suicide attempts that were unrelated to their sexual alignment and youth who reported suicide attempts that were related to their sexual orientation”. “The expanding study of sexual choice necessitates increased methodological and conceptual precision,” as evidenced by a study on suicidal attempts among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. According to the study, until the mid-1990s, only one research technique was viable: the use of a convenience sample of children attending recreational, educational, counseling, and social settings (D’Augelli, 2005). The use of population-based surveys has complemented the research on sexual orientation and mental health. It is through the inclusion of questions about sexual identity, and issues about the same sexual experience that helped in the data collection (D’Augelli, 2005). Therefore, from the application of the study estimates that were implemented in the data collection in the research, parameters were plausible and with the available sample-based research, the representativeness of the results remained uncertain.

The Results of the Study

The results of the study were resourceful in the clarification of the nature of the suicide attempts among LBG youths. The researchers established that roughly one-third of the LBG young people had stated a previous suicide effort. The statistics also indicated that of the third, 15% reported severe suicide attempts of which half required some medical attention (D’Augelli, 2005). Additionally, a significantly more female youth than male youth had reported a suicide attempt. Also, half of the male attempts and a third of the female attempts considered their suicide attempts to be associated with their sexual orientation. The factors that caused a differentiation in youth affirming suicide tries and the ones not proclaiming suicide attempts were; guardian’s emotional abuse and discouragement of atypical sexual characteristics during childhood. The data in the research also indicated that homosexual-related suicidal attempts were connected noticeably as Gay or Lesbian, particularly by guardians or parents (D’Augelli, 2005). Additionally, there was the association of early-age openness on sexual alignment and labeling by parents as gender atypical in childhood with increased gay-related suicide attempts, especially by males (D’Augelli, 2005). The research interpreted that the victimization experience such as lifetime gay-related verbal abuse also was a predictor factor in indicating the probability of suicide attempts among youth. Victimization examples include being called sissy or tomboy by parents (D’Augelli, 2005). Furthermore, an evaluation of the past parental mental and emotional mistreatment, the family’s reaction to childhood sexual atypical behavior, and youth’s openness on sexual orientation with members of the family was critical in the prediction of suicide attempts among LGB formative years.

Liu and Mustanski Investigated Specific Risk and Protective Factors for Suicide Attempts in LGBT Youth

Liu and Mustanski investigated the specific risk and protective factors for suicide attempts in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in a diverse ethnic sample. They used structured psychiatric interviews to assess clinical depression, disorder symptoms, and prospective suicide attempts. An examination of the common risk influences for suicide among transsexual and homosexual youth linked the symptoms of clinical melancholy, impulsivity, and desperateness through a lifetime past of suicidal attempts (Mustanski, 2013). Additionally, the initial phase of homosexuality recovery and discrimination of transsexual and queer youth is also in association with suicide attempt history. The data also indicated that there is no secure connection detected concerning childhood gender atypical behavior and a past of suicide trial (Mustanski, 2013). Therefore, this absence of the connection is inconsistent with other studies that have been done before on suicide endeavors amongst the bisexual and homosexual youth. The lack of a relationship of this research might be because of the substantial difference in the impacts of childhood nonconforming because it has fewer adverse effects in additional contemporary trials (Mustanski, 2013). The significance of the study of the LGBT-specific factors complements general risk factors that may collectively explain the increasing tolls of suicide behavior amid homosexual youth. Correlation analysis was done to scrutinize the connection between forecasters and suicide attempt and to find solutions (Mustanski, 2013). The information that is in the context of a history of a suicide attempt included: small family support, lack of hope, victimization because of sexual non-conformity, the age of first same-sex attraction, impulsivity, and mental disorder symptoms. The previous suicide risk history was found to be the best forecaster of possible suicide risks. Homosexuals and bisexual individuals who have previously attempted suicide (approximately 32% of the sample) have ten times higher odds of attempting another suicide (Mustanski, 2013). Results of the research, therefore, highlighted the need for the development of suicide prevention programs, especially for LGBT youths. The research also commended the significance of lecturing hopelessness and depression as causes of depression. Domestic and parental support is crucial for dealing with the probability of suicide risks amid bisexual and homosexual youth.

Smith and Crawford Scrutinized the Association Between Sexual Alignment and Youth Suicide Risk

Smith and Crawford scrutinized the association between sexual alignment and youth suicide risk by a full suicide risk evaluation (desperateness, aggression, and suicide ideation) (Rutter, 2002). The comparison of participants in this research was 100 youths aged 17 to 19 with their sexual orientation and the level of perceived external support (Rutter, 2002). In this study, suicide possibility depicted by atypical sexual factions was not more than their peers who are heterosexual (Rutter, 2002). Therefore, there is no support that the hypothesis sexual orientation has a remarkable influence on a suicide attempt. The study found that youths that stated additional peripheral support validated lesser general suicide risks, a lower level of desperateness, and less suicidal thinking. The study also suggested that suicide psychological variables such as parental support also influence suicide risk among LGBT youth (Rutter, 2002). The study had limitations such as the utilization of an opportuneness sample which encompassed young people from a public association, university, or a college. Therefore, it leads to the reduction of generalization of the effects. Additionally, the use of a small number of contributors particularly in linking risks among males was a limitation (Rutter, 2002). Hence the findings of this research should be regarded as conventionally as the first examination of youth suicide risks through the field of sexual alignment (Rutter, 2002). Therefore, by interrogating the hypothesis that atypical sexual minority are at an amplified probability of death, Smith, and Crawford challenge several concepts regarding LGBT youth suicide risk.

Social Support and the Role of Parents and Guardians

One of the key lessons that the three books conclude is that social support is critical for reducing the risk of a suicidal attempt. Social support breaks down to the parents and guardians of the youth. Early exhibition of sexual non-conformity should not be discouraged; rather, it should be understood and embraced. It is critical for parents to identify the sexual orientation of their children so that they can guide, encourage, and support them to prevent the probability of a suicide attempt. Also, other family members should be more sensitive and empathetic when dealing with a member that has come out about his or her sexual orientation.

History of Suicide Attempts and Preventive Measures

Additionally, research has justified the hypothesis that a history of suicide attempts among youth increases the risk of potential suicide attempts. Therefore, children who have at one time tried to take their lives are likely to do so in the future. Hence preventative measures ought to be taken to avert occurrences of potential suicide. Parents and family members need to take actions to ensure that a once suicidal child does not repeat the same mistake through support and encouragement.

Works Cited

D’Augelli, A. R. (2005). Predicting the suicide attempts of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. New York: Guilford Press.

Mustanski, B. a. (2013). A longitudinal study of predictors of suicide attempts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. New York: Springer.

Rutter, P. A. (2002). Youth suicide risk and sexual orientation. San Diego: Libra Publishers Incorporated.