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ERIC Number: EJ1470716
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1389-4986
EISSN: EISSN-1573-6695
Available Date: 2025-02-11
Understanding Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among LGBTQ+ Youth: Differential Associations between Bullying and Substance Use
Cayson W. Tiedge1; Alberto Valido2; Matthew Rivas-Koehl3; Brian A. Garcia4; Luz E. Robinson2; Graceson Clements2; Dorothy L. Espelage2
Prevention Science, v26 n3 p449-461 2025
Rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB, i.e., suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts), substance use, and bullying victimization are higher among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+) youth compared to their heterosexual peers. However, research examining the interactive and potentially compounding associations of concurrent bullying and substance use (alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogens, and opioids) with STB is sparse, especially among LGBTQ+ youth. Thus, the current study aims to understand how these substances moderate the association between bullying victimization and STB by utilizing data (N = 96,482) from the combined 2003-2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Using a cross-sectional design and hierarchical logistic regression, we found that, on average, LGBTQ+ youth who were bullied were more likely to report planning to attempt suicide (O.R. = 2.71, p < 0.01). Similarly, youth who reported using opioids/prescription drugs (O.R. = 4.60, p < 0.05) or hallucinogens (O.R. = 8.89, p < 0.01) were more likely to attempt suicide. No significant associations between alcohol use and STB were found. Lastly, cannabis emerged as a significant moderator of the associations between bullying victimization and suicidal ideation and plans, such that adolescents who were bullied and used cannabis were less likely to report suicidal ideation and planning compared to those who were bullied but did not use cannabis. These findings highlight that different substances are distinctively associated with STB among LGBTQ+ youth, providing a better understanding of how individuals who are being bullied may cope and to develop prevention programs to combat suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link-springer-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Social Work, Chapel Hill, USA; 2University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Education, Chapel Hill, USA; 3University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Human Development & Family Studies, Champaign, USA; 4University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, USA