School-Based Protective Factors Related to Suicide for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: Research indicates that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents are three times more likely to consider suicide than their heterosexual peers. Although research has identified risk factors for suicide among this population, little is known about school-level protective factors among this population, which may buffer the impact of risk.This study aims to understand whether school-based protective factors (e.g., school safety, relationships with caring adults at school, school connectedness) are associated with decreased suicidal ideation for LGB adolescents.

Methods: Logistic regression analyses were conducted on the data generated by the San Francisco Unified School District's 2011 California Healthy Kids Survey to examine the influence of protective factors related to suicidal ideation for LGB adolescents (n = 356).

Results: Results indicated that higher levels of school connectedness predicted less suicidal ideation (odds ratio = .59, p =. 005).

Conclusions: This study provided evidence that school protective factors were related to reduced suicidal ideation for LGB adolescents, controlling for risk factors and demographic variables.

Keywords: Protective factors; School connectedness; Sexual orientation; Suicide.