The relationship between suicide risk and sexual orientation: results of a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the relationship between sexual orientation and suicide risk in a population-based sample of adolescents.


METHODS
Participants were selected from a cross-sectional, statewide survey of junior and senior public high school students. All males (n = 212) and females (n = 182) who described themselves as bisexual/homosexual were compared with 336 gender-matched heterosexual respondents on three outcome measures: suicidal ideation, intent, and self-reported attempts. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between sexual orientation and outcome measures with adjustment for demographic characteristics.


RESULTS
Suicide attempts were reported by 28. 1 % of bisexual/homosexual males, 20.5% of bisexual/homosexual females, 14.5% of heterosexual females, and 4.2% of heterosexual males. For males, but not females, bisexual/homosexual orientation was associated with suicidal intent (odds ratio [OR] = 3.61 95% confidence interval [CI = 1.40, 9.36) and attempts (OR=7.10; 95% CI=3.05, 16.53).


CONCLUSIONS
There is evidence of a strong association between suicide risk and bisexuality or homosexuality in males.
Remafedi
G
G
Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
French
S
S
Story
M
M
Resnick
M D
MD
Blum
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide