Latent profile analysis to identify subgroups of Chinese sexual minority adolescents at risk of suicidality

Yuanyuan Wang; Yanwen Zhang; Guosheng Wang; Zhizhou Duan; Amanda Wilson; Yong Yang; Shufang Sun; Runsen Chen

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107007

Latent profile analysis to identify subgroups of Chinese sexual minority adolescents at risk of suicidality

Prev Med. 2022 Apr:157:107007. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107007. Epub 2022 Mar 3.

Authors

Yuanyuan Wang¹, Yanwen Zhang², Guosheng Wang³, Zhizhou Duan⁴, Amanda Wilson⁵, Yong Yang⁶, Shufang Sun⁷, Runsen Chen⁸

Affiliations

¹ Division of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK; Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, China.
² Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
³ Suzhou Guangji Hospital Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
⁴ Preventive Health Service, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
⁵ Division of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK.
⁶ Suzhou Guangji Hospital Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China. Electronic address: szgjyy@126c.om.
⁷ Brown University School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, International Health Institute, USA.
⁸ Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: runsenchen@tsinghua.edu.cn.

PMID: 35247440
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107007

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to identify latent class profiles of sexual minority adolescents (Men Sexually attracted to Men, Women Sexually attracted to Women, and Bisexual) with elevated suicidal ideation.

Methods: Data were collected from 18 secondary schools in China. Sub-group classifications were identified using variables associated with suicidal ideation in sexual minority adolescents, including parental relationship quality, electronic equipment time, school bullying, and sleep quality using the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to measure sleep. Anxiety was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), hypomania using the Hypomanic Checklist-32 (HCL-32), positive coping style was identified using the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, and self-efficacy was measured by the General Self-Efficacy Scale.

Results: Four distinctive profiles were derived from the data. Compared to "low-risk" group (Class 3), the "adolescent with mood problems" group (Class 2) had a 9.81 times higher risk of suicidal ideation; the those who classified as "severe bullied adolescent" (Class 4) had a 9.26 times higher risk of suicidal ideation. and the "adolescents with low self-efficacy" group (Class 1) had a 4.48 times higher risk of suicidal ideation.

Conclusions: Sexual minority adolescents with mood problems have the highest risk of suicidal ideation, followed by adolescents frequently being bullied at school. Interventions aimed at reducing suicide risk among sexual minority adolescents may benefit from attending to such profile factors identified in this study to develop targeted clinical care.

Keywords: Adolescents; Latent profile analysis; Sexual minority; Suicidal ideation.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Bisexuality
Bullying*
Female
Humans
Male
Risk Factors
Sexual and Gender Minorities*
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide*

Grants and funding

K23 AT011173/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States