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The relation between sexual orientation and suicide attempts in Austria
Martin Plöderl1, Karl Kralovec, Reinhold Fartacek
1University Institute for Clinical Psychology, Paracelsus Private Medical University and Christian-Doppler-Klinik, Salzburg, Austria. m.ploederl@salk.at
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|February 5, 2010
Summary
Homosexual and bisexual adults in Austria reported higher rates of suicide attempts than heterosexual adults. This finding highlights the need for targeted suicide prevention strategies for sexual minorities.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Previous research indicates elevated suicide attempt risk among homosexual and bisexual individuals.
- Studies in German-speaking regions are limited, particularly those avoiding community-based sampling.
- Addressing biases requires refined definitions of suicide attempts and multidimensional sexual orientation assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate suicide attempt prevalence across multiple dimensions of sexual orientation in a general Austrian adult population.
- To confirm existing evidence on increased suicide risk for homosexual and bisexual individuals in a non-community-recruited sample.
- To inform suicide prevention efforts by providing data from the German-speaking region.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1,382 Austrian adults.
- Structured snowball sampling initiated through student social networks.
- Assessment of self-reported suicide attempts, including intent to die and need for medical treatment, across various sexual orientation dimensions (fantasies, partner preference, behavior, self-identification).
Main Results:
- Homosexual and bisexual individuals reported significantly higher rates of suicide attempts compared to heterosexual individuals.
- This increased risk was consistent across all assessed dimensions of sexual orientation.
- Elevated risk was observed for suicide attempts with intent to die and those requiring medical treatment.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms a higher risk of suicide attempts among homosexual and bisexual adults in Austria.
- Findings underscore the importance of considering sexual orientation in suicide prevention initiatives.
- The results contribute valuable data from a German-speaking population, addressing a gap in existing research.
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