The influence of sexual orientation on judgments of suicidal behavior and suicidal individuals

Abstract

Sexual minority young persons are more likely to engage in nonfatal suicidal behavior than their heterosexual peers. A frequently cited precipitant of nonfatal suicidal behavior among sexual minority youth is the personal and interpersonal turmoil associated with coming to terms with one's sexual identity. This study explored sexual minority (N =104) and heterosexual (N =145) university students' reactions to a suicidal decision and suicidal peer who became suicidal in response to one of the following precipitants: coming to terms with one's sexual orientation, being rejected by one's parents following "coming out," a relationship loss, an achievement failure, and a physical illness. Respondents evaluated the suicidal decision in terms of its valence and its activity/passivity. Consistent with past studies of attitudes about suicidal behavior, only physical illness was singled out as a relatively understandable precipitant for suicidal behavior. Sexual minority respondents viewed the suicidal decision less negatively than heterosexual respondents, independent of precipitant. Male respondents were more critical of the suicidal decision than were females, but not when past suicidal ideation and lifetime number of suicidal acts were controlled for. Persons who had recently engaged in suicidal behavior were less accepting of the suicidal decision. Respondents also evaluated the suicidal individual with regard to character, emotional adjustment, femininity/masculinity, and perceived suicidal intent. Persons who engaged in suicidal behavior as a result of a physical illness were perceived as less maladjusted than persons who became suicidal in response to any other precipitant. Sexual minorities rated the suicidal person as having more character and being more emotionally adjusted than did heterosexual respondents, independent of the precipitant of the suicidal behavior. Previous suicidal ideation enhanced this effect. Overall, the attitudes revealed in this study suggest a greater acceptance, on the part of sexual minority individuals, of suicidal behavior as a way to cope with a range of adversities, as well as more positive evaluations of suicidal peers.