Experiences of sexual violence and their associations with suicidal ideation and behavior in the past year: an analysis of adults from the 2021 Ace Community Survey

• Published in: Journal of injury and violence research 2023-07, Vol.15 (2), p.147-155
• Main Author: Fink, Brian N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Ethnicity; Humans; Injury & Violence; Minority Groups; Sex Offenses; Sexual Behavior; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide, Attempted; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 2008-2053; 2008-4072
• DOI: 10.5249/jivr.v15i2.1843

This research assessed forms of sexual violence and their associations with suicidal ideation among adults identifying on the asexual identity spectrum. A secondary data analysis was conducted among adults, identifying on the asexual spectrum of asexual, gray-asexual, or demisexual, from the 2021 Ace Community Survey (n = 8,715). Multiple logistic regression analyses determined potential associations between sexual violence and suicidal ideation, adjusting for the covariates of age group, gender, education, racial/ethnic minority, employment, and asexual spectrum identity. Demisexual individuals were at statistically greater odds of suicidality compared to gray-asexual and asexual individuals. Sexual violence victims were more likely to be suicidal compared to non-victims. This was especially true for attempted rape and suicidal consideration (OR = 2.10, 95% CI (1.60, 2.75), planning (OR = 1.76, 95% CI (1.32, 2.34), and attempts (OR = 3.15, 95% CI (2.07, 4.81). Asexual victims of sexual violence were more likely to be suicidal compared to non-victims. Demisexual individuals were more likely to be suicidal compared to asexual individuals. These findings demonstrate the need for additional research on sexual violence and suicide.