The relationship between suicide risk and sexual orientation: results of a population-based study.

TLDR

The study investigated how sexual orientation relates to suicide risk among adolescents. Researchers compared bisexual/homosexual and heterosexual adolescents using logistic regression on a statewide high‑school survey, adjusting for demographics. Bisexual/homosexual males had markedly higher odds of suicidal intent and attempts (OR ≈ 3.6 and 7.1) compared with heterosexual males, indicating a strong association between same‑sex orientation and suicide risk in male adolescents.

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.