Where Risks and Protective Factors Operate Differently: Homeless Sexual Minority Youth and Suicide Attempts

Using a sample of 628 homeless youth & young adults from 8 American cities, this study examined whether the relationship between having been in custody of social services & suicide attempts, & the relationship between engaging in survival sex & suicide attempts differed based on sexual orientation. Findings suggest being in custody of social services was associated with a significant increase in likelihood of suicide attempts for heterosexual youth but that it did not significantly change the already increased risk of suicide attempts for sexual minority youth. Engaging in survival sex appeared to be associated with increased risks of suicide attempts for both heterosexual & sexual minority youth, but the increase in likelihood was much stronger for heterosexual youth. (117 refs.) JA