Association of sexual orientation with exposure to suicide and related emotional distress among US adults

Objective: Suicide bereavement is a significant public health concern. Using nationally representative survey data, we quantify sexual orientation differences in frequency of suicide exposure and suicide exposure-related emotional distress among US adults. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the 2016 General Social Survey (GSS) and included sexual minority (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual; (n = 74, 5.3%) and heterosexual (n = 1,207, 94.7%) adults. The GSS asked several questions related to suicide exposure including number of lifetime suicide exposures, emotional distress related to suicide exposure, time elapsed since suicide exposure, and relationship(s) and perceived closeness to the person(s) who died. We use descriptive statistics to describe differences in suicide exposure characteristics across sexual orientation. Among those who were exposed to at least one suicide (n = 698, 51.1%), a weighted multivariable logistic regression model examined the association between sexual orientation and suicide exposure-related emotional distress adjusting for confounders. Results: Sexual minorities reported a similar number of lifetime suicide exposures and were not significantly different from heterosexuals on other suicide exposure characteristics. However, sexual minority, compared to heterosexual, respondents experienced 3.14 greater odds of severe emotional distress related to suicide exposure (95% CI = 1.42-6.94, p = .005). Conclusion: Perhaps due to stigmatizing mourning experiences, sexual minority adults are particularly vulnerable to severe suicide exposure-related emotional distress. Future research to understand the scope of sexual minority-specific bereavement support services and public policies (e.g., bereavement leave) as well as intervention development to support sexual minority adults' coping in the wake of suicide exposure is warranted. HIGHLIGHTS Approximately half of sexual minority US adults report a lifetime suicide exposure. Sexual minority adults experience more severe suicide exposure-related emotional distress. Postvention care should be tailored to meet the needs of sexual minority adults.