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Suicidal Behavior in Adolescent and Young Adult Gay Men
Author(s) -
Schneider Stephen G.,
Farberow Norman L.,
Kruks Gabriel N.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1989.tb00568.x
Subject(s) - intrapersonal communication , suicidal ideation , psychology , homosexuality , lesbian , suicide prevention , poison control , context (archaeology) , clinical psychology , injury prevention , feeling , medicine , social psychology , interpersonal communication , medical emergency , paleontology , psychoanalysis , biology
The relationship of homosexuality to suicidal behavior was explored by questionnaire responses from 52 men in gay‐and‐lesbian college organizations and 56 men in gay rap groups. A family background of alcoholism and physical abuse, social supports perceived as rejecting of homosexuality, and no religious affiliation were associated with a history of suicidal ideation, reported by 55% of the participants. Racial/ethnic minorities tended to be overrepresented among suicidal as compared to nonsuicidal gay men. Suicide attempts, reported by 20% of the sample, were most often associated with intrapersonal distress, and occurred most often while individuals were “closeted” and/or in the context of recent rejection for being homosexual. Nearly all attempters were aware of their homosexual feelings, but had not yet established a “positive gay identity” at the time of their first suicide attempt. Suicidal behavior in gay youths may be the product both of familial factors that predispose youths to suicidal behavior, and of social and intrapersonal stressors involved in coming to terms with an emerging homosexual identity.