Role of victimization in the relationship between lesbian, gay, bisexual and unsure sexual identities and attempted suicide in the general population

Higher rates of attempted suicide have been documented among people who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, and bisexual (LGB) compared to people who self-identify as heterosexual. Victimization experiences in childhood and adulthood are known risk factors for attempted suicide but these factors have not been comprehensively explored in studies of the association between LGB identity and attempted suicide in the National Epidemiology Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) Wave 2 data, which represent the general adult U.S. population. Cross-tabulation and logistic regression techniques were used to ascertain the relationship between attempted suicide and measures of victimization among subjects self-identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or questioning (LGBQ). The prevalence of attempted suicide among gay and lesbian respondents was more than three-fold higher compared to heterosexual respondents and the prevalence among bisexual respondents was more than six-fold higher. The prevalence of lifetime sexual assault, childhood abuse and physical abuse were higher among respondents self-identifying as LGBQ compared to respondents self-identifying as heterosexual. Including sexual assault in a logistic regression model attenuated the ratio of odds of attempted suicide comparing gay or lesbian, bisexual and not sure groups to heterosexuals, indicating that lifetime experience of sexual assault may significantly confound or mediate the relationship between non-heterosexual identity and attempted suicide. Additional analyses in this area are planned to explore causal pathways and determine the roles that other forms of victimization play in the relationship between LGB identity and attempted suicide.