Sexual Orientation and Exposure to Close Others’ Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors

Is exposure to close others’ (eg, friends, family members) self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) associated with sexual orientation disparities in SITB among young adults?In this cohort study involving 3030 respondents across 2 nationally representative population-based cohorts, sexual minority young adults reported significantly higher frequency of exposure to close others’ SITB than heterosexual young adults. Mediation analyses indicated that exposure to close others’ SITB accounted for a statistically significant portion of the sexual orientation disparity in SITB.Findings from this cohort study suggest that exposure to close others’ SITB may explain increased SITB risk among sexual minority young adults, warranting further research investigating psychosocial mechanisms underlying SITB transmission within at-risk groups.

Corresponding Author: Kirsty A. Clark, PhD, MPH, Department of Medicine, Health, and Society, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Pl, PMB 351665, Nashville, TN 37232-1665 (kirsty.clark@vanderbilt.edu).

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