(PS8-52) Identifying Protective Factors in LGBTQ+ Suicide Risk: The Impact of Community and Authenticity

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals frequently report greater rates of suicidal ideation (SI) and histories of suicide attempt (SA) than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. These rates may be explained within the framework of the interpersonal theory of suicide (IPTS). The IPTS model posits that SI is derived from thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. For LGBTQ+ individuals, psychosocial stressors like social rejection, discrimination, and victimization may constitute these risks. Though the link between these psychosocial stressors and the IPTS is now established, there is a dearth of studies probing possible protective factors. The goal of the present study was to establish if positive components of a LGBTQ+ identity can moderate suicide risk. More specifically, we aimed to determine if a sense of belonging within the LGBTQ+ community and embracing one’s LGBTQ+ identity (authenticity, outness, and self-acceptance) moderated the link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and history of bullying to lifetime history of SI and SA. To address this research question, a sample of 260 LGBTQ+ participants were recruited from a crowdsourcing platform specializing in academic research. They completed assessments of ACEs, history of bullying, positive LGBTQ+ identity (authenticity, community, self-awareness, intimacy, social justice), outness, and self-acceptance of sexuality. Bivariate analyses indicated that ACEs (ρ_pb = .35) and bullying (ρ_pb = .18) were positively associated with SA (both ps < .01), and a sense of community was negatively correlated with SA (ρ_pb = -.13, p = .033). No variable significantly correlated with SI. When all sociodemographic and psychosocial variables were entered into a binomial logistic regression, the model for SI was not significant (p = .30). Conversely, the model for SA was significant (R² = 0.30; p < .001). Within this model, ACEs persisted as predictors of SA (aOR = 1.31, p < .001), but bullying did not (aOR = 1.00, p = .78). Sense of community negatively predicted SA (aOR = 0.62, p < .001); authenticity, contrary to hypotheses, positively predicted SA (aOR = 1.75, p = .006). As an exploratory step, we added an interaction term between community and authenticity to the model, which significantly improved model fit. The interaction term predicted SA (aOR = 1.49, p < .001); examination of the slopes indicated that the odds of reporting an SA increased as authenticity increased and community decreased. These results suggest that a sense of community can be a key factor to mitigate suicide risk. Without community, authenticity may increase loneliness, thwarted belonginess, and/or burdensomeness. Further, these results support previous findings that suggest the IPTS may be a particularly useful framework to understand suicide risk in the LGBTQ+ population. Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are clear clinical targets when working with LGBTQ+ individuals, and LGBTQ+ involvement may be an avenue for suicide prevention efforts.