The Role of Social Connectedness and Sexual Orientation in the Prevention of Youth Suicide Ideation and Attempts Among Sexually Active Adolescents

Authors

Deborah M. Stone, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Feijun Luo, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionFollow
Caroline Lippy, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Wendy LiKamWa McIntosh, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 45 (4) August 2015

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

The impact of types of social connectedness—family, other adult, and school—on suicide ideation and attempts among all youth, the relative impact of each type, and effect modification by sexual orientation was assessed. Data were from the 2007–2009 Milwaukee Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. Multivariable logistic regression analyses calculated the risk of suicide ideation and attempts by sexual orientation, types of social connectedness, and their interaction. Among all youth, each type of connectedness modeled singly conferred protective effects for suicide ideation. Family and other adult connectedness protected against suicide attempts. When modeled simultaneously, family connectedness protected against ideation and attempts. Sexual orientation modified the association between other adult connectedness and suicide ideation. Findings suggest that family connectedness confers the most consistent protection among all youth and sexual orientation does not generally modify the association between connectedness and suicidal behavior.