Application of minority stress and suicide models in bisexual+ versus gay/lesbian young adults

Sexual minority (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer) young adults are at increased risk for suicidal ideation (SI) compared to heterosexual young adults. Several frameworks have been proposed to explain the development of suicide risk, including the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS) among the general population and the Minority Stress Model among sexual minority people. However, few studies have examined these frameworks in conjunction, and there is a dearth of research examining risk factors for suicide in bisexual+ individuals. This study addresses these gaps in the literature by examining multiple frameworks for understanding suicide risk in sexual minority young adults, as well as extending this research to the understudied bisexual+ subgroup. A total of 794 sexual minority young adults (49.9% bisexual+ and 50.1% gay/lesbian) completed an online survey at baseline, at one-month follow-up, and at two-month follow-up assessing constructs related to IPTS and the minority stress model as well as SI. In the full sample, all types of minority stress at baseline were significantly associated with SI at two-month follow-up via perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) at one-month follow-up. In the bisexual+ subsample, all bisexual-specific minority stressors at baseline were also significantly associated with SI at two-month follow-up via PB at one-month follow-up; internalized binegativity was associated with SI via both PB and TB. However, the effects became non-significant when controlling for previous levels of the mediators and outcome variables. Sexual identity (bisexual+ versus gay/lesbian) did not moderate any associations or indirect effects among the full sample. Findings provide preliminary support for the relevance of minority stress and IPTS for understanding the development of suicide risk among sexual minority young adults, and they highlight the importance of targeting these factors to reduce suicide in this high disparity population.Psy.D.Includes bibliographical reference