How Does Sexual Identity-Attraction Discordance Influence Suicide Risk? A Study on Male and Female Adults in the U.S.

Background: Suicide continues to be one of the main causes of death among adults in the U.S. Research showed an association between sexual identity-attraction discordance (IAD) and adverse health outcomes, including suicidal ideation.

Methods: We sought to determine whether sexual IAD is associated with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs), namely suicidal thoughts, plans, and suicide attempts, in the past year. We examined data from adults participating in the most recent six waves (2015-2020) of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Results: Men who report sexual identity-attraction discordance were at greater risk of reporting suicidal thoughts (aOR = 3.67, 95% CI: 2.24-6.00) and plans (aOR = 5.71, 95% CI: 3.32-9.81) in the past year. Stratified by sexual identity, results showed that gay (aOR = 5.92, 95% CI: 1.54-22.7) and bisexual men (aOR = 4.38, 95% CI: 2.17-8.83) had higher odds of reporting suicide plans and heterosexual (aOR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.06-6.68), gay (aOR = 7.05, 95% CI: 1.88-26.4), and bisexual men (aOR = 5.30, 95% CI: 4.37-22.9) had higher odds of suicide attempts when compared to men with concordant sexual identity-attraction. We found that bisexual women who report sexual identity-attraction discordance had less odds of reporting suicidal thoughts (aOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.21-0.63) and suicide plans (aOR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20-0.89) than women with concordant sexual identity-attraction. Among bisexual-identified males, those who experience sexual identity-attraction discordance were at greater risk for past-year suicidal thoughts (aOR = 3.82, 95% CI: 2.12-6.91) and suicide attempts (aOR = 5.30, 95% CI: 2.13-13.1) when compared to bisexual men with concordant sexual identity-attraction.

Conclusion: Sexual IAD is associated with SITB and particularly concerning results emerged concerning bisexual-identified men.