Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Suicidal Behavior: Testing a Constructivist Model

• Published in: Suicide & life-threatening behavior 2002-09, Vol.32 (3), p.272-283
• Main Authors: McBee-Strayer, Sandra M., Rogers, James R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Bisexuality; Bisexuality - psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Constructivism (Learning); Factor Analysis, Statistical; Factor Structure; Female; Gays & lesbians; Homosexuality; Homosexuality, Female - psychology; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Humans; Lesbianism; Literature Reviews; Male; Males; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Modeling (Psychology); Models, Psychological; Ohio; Predictor Variables; Psychological Tests; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Regression Analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Research Design; Risk; Sampling; Self Actualization; Sexual Orientation; Social Organizations; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Substance Abuse; Suicide; Suicide - prevention & control; Suicide - psychology; Suicide, Attempted - psychology; Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data; Suicides & suicide attempts; World Views
• ISSN: 0363-0234; 1943-278X
• DOI: 10.1521/suli.32.3.272.22171

The present investigation surveyed 162 self‐identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals recruited from LGB‐related social organizations or contacted through networking procedures with regard to suicidal behaviors, suicide risk factors, and reasons for living. Approximately 41% of the respondents indicated a serious consideration of suicide including the identification of a specific suicide plan (23%) or a past suicide attempt (36%) with significant intent to die (13%). Forty‐six percent of the sample indicated at least some degree of chance of attempting suicide in the future. Grounded in the existential‐constructivist theory of suicide (Rogers, 2001), empirically and theoretically identified suicide risk factors were found as a group to predict suicidal ideation (R2 = .16) and attempts (R2 = .17), with abuse‐related items independently predicting both suicidal ideation (R2 = .03) and attempts (R2 = .08). Items related to self‐identity issues and social acceptance were predictive of suicidal ideation (R2 = .04), while substance abuse was predictive of suicidal ideation (R2 = .05) and attempts (R2 = .13) for males only. The established factor structure of the Reasons for Living Inventory (Linehan et al., 1983) was not supported in the current data, suggesting that it may not be an appropriate measure of reasons for living with LGB individuals.