The relationship between sexual violence, risky sexual behaviours, and suicide attempts in a large sample of sexual minority youth.

Abstract

Background: Sexual minority youth (SMY) experience disproportionately high rates of suicide. Previous research has identified a relationship between sexual violence and suicidal behaviours within this population. While emerging evidence suggests a possible association between sexual violence and risky sexual behaviours (RSB), the impact of RSB on suicide among SMY remains unclear.

Objective: The current study examined the relationship between sexual violence, RSB, and suicide attempts among SMY using data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).

Methods: High school students (n = 456; grades 9 to 12) in the United States of America who identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual answered questions about past-year sexual assault, engagement in RSB, and past-year suicide attempts.

Results: Hierarchical binomial logistic regression analyses indicated that past-year sexual assault was significantly associated with past-year suicide attempts, such that SMY who experienced sexual violence in the past year were at a greater risk of making a suicide attempt within this same period. Bisexual youth were also at a higher risk of recent suicidal behaviour relative to their gay and lesbian peers. However, RSB variables were not significantly associated with suicide attempts within the model.

Conclusion: Findings underscore the critical association between sexual violence and suicide risk among SMY. Implications for future research and targeted, inclusive prevention efforts are discussed.