Abstract:
Literature on suicidality has emphasized that sexual minority individuals are more likely to
experience suicidal ideations, make suicide attempts, and engage in self-harming behaviors more
frequently than their heterosexual peers. Multiple suicide risk factors such as peer victimization
and lower school belonging have been associated with increased risk and are more prominent
among sexual minorities. Guided by Meyer’s Minority Stress Theory (2003) and Joiner’s
Interpersonal-psychological Theory of Suicidal Behavior (2005), this exploratory study utilized
Classification and Regression Tree Analysis (CART) to examine the relationships of intersecting
identities and suicide risk factors among a nationally representative sample of high school
students. Findings demonstrated relationships between intersecting identities of sexual minority
status and sex with respect to predicting depressive symptoms and suicidality. Furthermore,
analyses showed interactions between peer victimization-related suicide risk factors and safety
concerns at school. Recommendations to address these concerns in schools and implications for
future studies are discussed.
