Associations of adverse and protective childhood experiences with thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicide risk among sexual minority men

Authors

Raymond L. Moody, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 772 West 181st Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Joseph A. Carter, Department of Psychology, City University of New York Graduate Center, Health Psychology and Clinical Sciences Program, New York, NY, USA.
Ali Talan, Whitman-Walker Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
K Marie Sizemore, Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers University Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Stephen T. Russell, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin School of Human Ecology, Austin, TX, USA.
H Jonathon Rendina, Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, and Whitman-Walker Institute, Washington, DC, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-19-2022

Journal

Psychological medicine

DOI

10.1017/S0033291722002823

Keywords

ACES; PACES; perceived burdensomeness; sexual minority men; suicide; thwarted belongingness

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sexual minority men (SMM) experience higher suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than the general population. We examined the associations of adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and protective and compensatory childhood experiences (PACES) with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adulthood via thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness among SMM. METHODS: Data are from the study, a national longitudinal cohort study of HIV-negative SMM from the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Between 2017 and 2019, participants ( = 6303) completed web-based assessments at baseline and 12-month follow-up. ACES and PACES occurring before the age of 18, and current symptoms of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness were assessed at baseline. Past-week suicidal ideation and past-year suicide attempt were assessed at follow-up. RESULTS: 424 (6.7%) participants reported past-week suicidal ideation and 123 (2.0%) reported a past-year suicide attempt. The results of our multivariate model suggest that each additional adverse childhood experience was prospectively associated with 14% higher odds of past-week suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.09-1.19) and 19% higher odds of past-year suicide attempt (AOR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.11-1.29). Each additional protective childhood experience was prospectively associated with 15% lower odds of past-week suicidal ideation (AOR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.81-0.90) and 11% lower odds of past-year suicide attempt (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.82-0.98). Perceived burdensomeness partially mediated these prospective associations. CONCLUSION: To reduce suicide, screening and treating perceived burdensomeness among SMM with high ACES may be warranted. PACES may decrease perceived burdensomeness and associated suicide risk.

APA Citation

Moody, Raymond L.; Carter, Joseph A.; Talan, Ali; Sizemore, K Marie; Russell, Stephen T.; and Rendina, H Jonathon, "Associations of adverse and protective childhood experiences with thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicide risk among sexual minority men" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1611.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1611

Department

Epidemiology