The Mediating Role of Family Acceptance and Conflict on Suicidality among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

Autor: David A. Klein, Anwar E. Ahmed, Mikela A. Murphy, Arielle T. Pearlman, Nia Johnson, Joshua C. Gray, Natasha A. Schvey
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research.
ISSN: 1543-6136
Popis: Prior research suggests sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth are profoundly impacted by levels of parental support. This study assessed mediating effects of generalized family acceptance and conflict on lifetime suicidal behaviors among a large diverse sample comprising both SGM and non-SGM youth in early adolescence, when intervention to optimize family dynamics may be critical.Using data from the first-year follow-up of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study based in the United States, mediation was tested using a binary logistic regression model fitted with a generalized structural equation. Models included SGM status as the independent variable, family acceptance or family conflict sum score as the mediator, and the presence of lifetime suicidal behaviors as the dependent variable. Models adjusted for age, birth-assigned sex (as reported by the parent/guardian), and race/ethnicity.Of 11,235 youths, lifetime suicidal behaviors were reported by 1.5% (Identification of modifiable risk factors for suicidality in this vulnerable population, including parental acceptance and family conflict, is critical to improving health outcomes. Clinicians should work with SGM youth and their families starting in childhood to optimize family dynamics and bolster acceptance to potentially reduce adverse health outcomes. HIGHLIGHTSYouths with SGM identity reported 40% less parental acceptance than non-SGM peers.Parental acceptance was associated with lower odds of lifetime suicidal behaviors.Family factors partially mediated associations between SGM status and suicidal behaviors.
Databáze: OpenAIRE