self-injury, suicide ideation, and sexual orientation: differences in causes and correlates among high school students

Background: research has suggested that sexual minority youth are more likely to experience a number of behavioral and health-related risk factors due to their exposure to negative attitudes and beliefs about sexual minorities. few studies, however, have examined the prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (nssi) among sexual minority youth. with self-cutting and suicidal ideation common in middle and high schools, understanding the antecedents and correlates of such behavior may help identify troubled students and initiate preventative measures.methods: bivariate probit regression analyses are performed using data from 7,326 high school students collected via the delaware youth risk behavior survey.results: results indicate that bullying victimization, fighting, substance use, sexual behavior, depression, and unhealthy dieting behaviors were generally associated with nssi and suicidal ideation. some effects - including those from sexual activity, substance use, and unhealthy dieting behaviors – significantly differed based on gender and orientation.conclusions: risk factors for suicide and nssi vary by gender and orientation. both prevention/intervention specialists and researchers should consider the intersection of these risk factors with sexual orientation in their efforts.