A 21-Category Web-Link GLBT Education Search The WebThis Site for Get a Search Engine For Your Web Site
GB Male Suicidality at a Glance! Results of 30 studies in four tables.  "Attempted Suicide" Results For Homosexually Oriented Males & Females: More Than 100 Studies!

Youth Risk Behavior Surveys

Surveys Soliciting "homosexuality" Information: - Minnesota* 1987, 2004; Massachusetts 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005; Vermont 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005; Vermont: Franklin County 2005; Seattle 1995; Wisconsin 1997, 1999, 2001; Oregon, 1997, 1999; San Francisco, 1997; and Connecticut** 1997.  - Massachusetts/Vermont 1995/1997: Re-Evaluation Study.

*Study done using the Minnesota Adolescent Health Survey Questionnaire amended to solicit "sexual orientation" information.
**Voice of Connecticut Youth Survey

Eighty-Three Thousand Youth (PDF Download): Selected Findings of Eight Population-Based Studies as they pertain to anti-gay harassment and the safety and well-being of sexual minority students. April 1999. By The Safe Schools Coalition of Washington: Reports and Publications.
 

Minnesota Adolescent Health Survey, Minnesota (2004)

Minnesota Department of Education (2004). 2004 Minnesota Student Survey Statewide Tables: Fall 2004. Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/healthcare/documents/pub/dhs_id_049112.pdf .

Minnesota Adolescent Health Survey, Minnesota (1987)

Research Highlights: - A 1987 sample of 36,254 grades 7 to 12 Minnesota students from whom sexual orientation and suicidality information was solicited. This was a part of the Adolescent Youth Risk Behavior Survey which was amended given that the standard (CDC-approved) questionnaire does not solicit sexual orientation information. Self-identified gay/bisexual male adolescents (about 1% of males) were deemed to be at significantly greater risk (by a 7-times factor) for a suicide attempt compared to heterosexual male adolescent. Their respective lifetime attempted suicide rates are 28.1% versus 4.2%.

Comment:  This study demonstrating that gay/bisexual male adolescents are at higher risk for suicide attempts than their heterosexual counterparts is, however, only a part of the "at risk" picture for these boys. A 1996 study of the same sample reported that "homosexual males were more likely to report a poor body image (27.8% vs. 12.0%, frequent dieting (8.9% vs. 5.5%), binge eating (25.0% vs. 10.6%), or purging behaviors (e.g., vomiting: 11.7% vs. 4.4%) compared with heterosexual males." (French SA, Story M, Remafedi G, Resnick MD, and Blum RW, 1996. Sexual orientation and prevalence of body dissatisfaction and eating disordered behaviors: a population-based study of adolescents. International Journal of Eating disorders, 19(2), 119-26. A PubMed "abstract" link with article delivery service. If link is not working, access abstract via PubMed's Medline. Place this "unique identifier number" - 97086356 - in SEARCH window.)

Saewyc EM, Bearinger LH, Heinz PA, Blum RW, Resnick MD (1998). Gender differences in health and risk behaviors among bisexual and homosexual adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 23(3), 181-8. (PubMed "abstract".)

Research Highlights.  Further analysis of the 1987 Minnesota Adolescent Health Survey sample first reported on by Remafedi et al. (1998).  Suicide attempt rates for homosexual/bisexual males and females were 28.1% and 20.5%, respectively, versus 4.2% and 14.5% for their heterosexual counterparts. The authors of this study, however, note that "nearly 1 of 3 older boys and girls reported at least one suicide attempt." No explanation is given for this but the implications would be that, by the age of 15 to 18 (for this sample ranging in age from about 12 to 18), about one-third of homosexual / bisexual adolescents have attempted suicide - the female attempted suicide rate having become insignificantly different from the male rate. Two explanations are possible. With age, the lifetime "attempted suicide" tally increases, more for females. And/or: with age, more individuals (especially females) are self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, thus increasing the tally of lifetime suicide attempters in this category - who may have been listed in the "heterosexual-identified" category if they had been studied at an earlier age. Younger students, even after having attempted suicide for reasons related to sexual orientation, may not be ready to reveal the "homosexuality" aspect of themselves to anyone (possibly because they were rejecting or denying this aspect of self to themselves)- and they would therefore also not report this aspect of self on a pencil-and-paper questionnaire.

Remafedi G, Resnick M, Blum R, Harris L (1992) Demography of sexual orientation in adolescents. Pediatrics. 89(4-2), 714-21.  (A PubMed "abstract" link with article delivery service. If link is not working, access abstract via PubMed's Medline. Place this "unique identifier number" - 92212664 - in SEARCH window.)

 
Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts (2005) 

Summary Available at: - http://www.mass.gov/cgly/yrbs05.pdf .

3.7 percent of students surveyed described themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual.

6.4 percent of all students described themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual and/or reported same-sex sexual contact.

Students who described themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual were significantly more likely than their peers to report attacks, suicide attempts and drug and alcohol use. When compared to peers, this group was:

        over four times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year.
        over four times more likely to miss school in the past month because of feeling unsafe.
        almost twice more likely to have been injured or threatened with a weapon at school..

*All differences between GLB students and Others are statistically significant, p. <.05

Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts (2003)

 Summary Available at: - http://www.mass.gov/gcgly/yrbs03.pdf .

3.5 percent of students surveyed described themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual.

6.0 percent of all students described themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual and/or reported same-sex sexual contact.

Students who described themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual were significantly more likely than their peers to report attacks, suicide attempts and drug and alcohol use. When compared to peers, this group was:

        over five times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year.
        over three times more likely to miss school in the past month because of feeling unsafe.
        over three times more likely to have been injured or threatened with a weapon at school..

*All differences between GLB students and Others are statistically significant, p. <.05

Massachusetts' YRBS Report: - http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/03/results.pdf . Excerpts:

Sexual minority youth (i.e., students who either identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or had any same-sex sexual contact) were more likely than other students to be current smokers (48% vs. 19%) and daily smokers (23% vs. 6%).

Sexual minority youth were significantly more likely than other students to report current alcohol use (60% vs. 45%) and binge drinking (44% vs. 26%).

Sexual minority youth were significantly more likely than other students to report lifetime drug use (73% vs. 46%) and current drug use (49% vs. 29%).

Certain groups of students reported higher rates than their peers of violence-related behaviors. These groups included male students, students in younger grades, Black students, students of Other or Multiple Ethnicity, students in urban districts, recent immigrants, sexual minority students, and students with disabilities.

Sexual minority youth (i.e., students who either identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or reported any same-sex sexual contact) were significantly more likely than other students to have carried a weapon (24% vs. 13%), been in a physical fight (44% vs. 30%), and to have been in a gang (23% vs. 9%). They were also significantly more likely to have skipped school because they felt unsafe (15% vs. 4%), been bullied (42% vs. 21%), been threatened or injured with a weapon at school (22% vs. 5%), and to have experienced dating violence (30% vs. 9%) or sexual contact against their will (41% vs. 8%).

Students in urban districts, recent immigrants, students with disabilities, sexual minority youth, and students who have experienced violence were more likely than their peers to report a suicide attempt.

Certain groups of students were significantly more likely than their peers to report a suicide attempt:... Sexual minority youth (32% vs. 7% of other students), Students who were bullied at school (15% vs. 6% of students who were not bullied), Students who skipped school because they felt unsafe (33% vs. 7% of students who did not skip school for safety concerns), and Students who had experienced dating violence or sexual contact against their will (27% vs. 5% of students who did not experience dating violence or sexual contact against their will).

Adolescents who have experienced school victimization, dating violence, sexual contact against their will are especially vulnerable to suicidality, as are gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents, students in urban areas, and recent immigrants.

Sexual minority youth were significantly more likely than other students to report never or rarely wearing a seat belt (29% vs. 15%), riding with a drunk driver (45% vs. 26%), and driving after drinking (24% vs. 11%).

Sexual minority youth and students in urban communities had higher rates than their peers of most sexual risk behaviors.

Four percent (4%) of all students described themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and 5% had same-sex sexual contact98 in their lifetimes. In all, 6% of students could be considered sexual minority youth; that is they either identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or had any same-sex sexual contact in their lifetimes.

Sexual minority youth were significantly more likely than other students to report lifetime sexual intercourse (77% vs. 39%), sexual intercourse before age 13 (21% vs. 4%), sexual intercourse with four or more partners in their lifetimes (32% vs. 9%), and recent sexual intercourse (54% vs. 29%). Among students who ever had sexual intercourse in their lifetimes, sexual minority youth were significantly more likely than other students to report having ever been or gotten someone pregnant (17% vs. 9%)99 and having been diagnosed with HIV or another STD (16% vs. 7%).

Sexual minority youth were significantly less likely than other students to have been taught about AIDS or HIV infection in school (85% vs. 92%).. Recent immigrants, sexual minority students and students in urban districts were significantly less likely to have received AIDS or HIV education in school.. Similarly, sexual minority youth have significantly higher rates than their peers of sexual risk behaviors and may be at particularly high risk of STDs and HIV infection.

Sexual minority youth (i.e., students who either identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, or had any same-sex sexual contact) were significantly less likely than other students to report having breakfast every day (22% vs. 33%), participating in regular vigorous physical activity (44% vs. 62%), playing on a sports team (40% vs. 55%), and were significantly more likely to be at risk of becoming overweight (22% vs. 13%) and to have used an unhealthy weight control method (38% vs. 16%).

Patterns of risk are different for different students. Certain groups of students appear to be at greater risk for health and academic problems because of higher rates of risk behaviors. Gender, race/ethnicity, grade level, sexual orientation, kind of community, and many other factors were all related to variations in risk behavior. Although all students need the knowledge, encouragement, and skills to develop healthy lifestyles, it may also be appropriate to develop “targeted” programs aimed specifically at the risks faced by certain segments of the adolescent population.

Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts (2001)
 

Data at Source: - http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/yrbs/01/results.pdf N/A (PDF Download). New URL: - http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/01/results.pdf .

Gay / Lesbian / Bisexual (GLB): 2% of Males, 4% of Females
53% of GLB: No same-sex sexual activity.
Same-sex sexual activity reported: 37% GLB
GLB and/or Report Same-Sex Sexual Activity: 5% of Males & Females.
 
 

Sexual Minority Youth vs. Others: Intercourse, life (73% vs. 43%) - Intercourse, recent (52% vs. 32%) - Pregnancy Involment (27% vs. 11%) - >= 4 Sex Partners, life (36% vs. 11%) - HIV, STD Testing (42% vs. 24%).

The Safe Schools Program for Gay & Lesbian Students: Program & Resources.
 

Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts (1999)

"Sexual minority adolescents (those who identified themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or reported any same-sex sexual contact) comprised 5.5% of students participating in the survey." Citation From: - http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/yrbs99/chapter6.html. N/A New URL: http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/99yrbs6.pdf - http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/chapter6.html - Download Page:  http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/default.html .

A total of 4,415 students participated in the study. Therefore, there are about 243 "sexual minority youth" and 4,172 students defined as "other students." These figures are used for calculation in data tables below. The actual numbers may be slightly different.

"Sexual minority youth (i.e, adolescents who either identified themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and/or those who had any same-sex sexual experience [5.5% of students]) reported higher rates than their peers of considering suicide (49% vs. 20%), making a suicide plan (39% vs. 15%), actually attempting suicide (29% vs. 7%), and of requiring medical attention for a suicide attempt (18% vs. 3%). Differences were statistically significant both for self-identified sexual orientation and for same-sex behavior."
 

NOTE: One out of five male and female adolescent suicide attempters and one of four male and female adolescent suicide attempters who received medical attention is a sexual minority youth. On the basis of the Garofalo et al. (1999) study, it is likely that the proportion will be significantly higher for sexual sexual minority male youth, and  lower for sexual minority female youth when compared to their same-gender counterparts.

Data / Citation Source: - http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/yrbs99/chapter8.html N/A. New URL: http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/99yrbs8.pdf - http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/chapter8.html - Download Page:  http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/default.html .

"Sexual minority youth (those who identified themselves as gay/lesbian/or bisexual and/or who had any same-sex sexual contact) had higher rates of drug use than their peers, including higher lifetime rates of using marijuana (70% vs. 49%), cocaine (29% vs. 9%), methamphetamines (30% vs. 7%), and injected drugs (18% vs. 2%)."

NOTE: One out of 3 students reporting having injected illicit drugs is a sexual minority youth. The 18% of sexual minority youth reporting injecting illicit drugs (n = 44) and the 2% of other students having done the same (n = 83) produces a total of 127 adolescents reporting such activities. Therefore, 34.6% of students (44/126 = 34.6%) reporting injecting illicit drugs are sexual minority youth who form 5.5% of the student population.

Data / Citation Source: - http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/yrbs99/chapter4.html. N/A New URL: http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/99yrbs4.pdf - http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/chapter4.html - Download Page:  http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/default.html .

"Sexual minority adolescents (that is, those who identified themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and/or had a history of same-sex sexual contact) reported substantially higher rates of school-related violence than their peers, regardless of whether comparisons were made on the basis of self-identified sexual orientation, same-sex behavior, or both."

"Among male students, those who identified themselves as gay or bisexual and/or who had any same-sex sexual experience were more likely than their male peers to consider themselves overweight (41% vs. 22%). They had significantly higher rates than other male students of trying to control their weight by fasting (21% vs. 6%), taking diet pills (19% vs. 4%), and vomiting or taking laxatives (22% vs. 4%). On the other hand, they were similar to other males in terms of actual Body Mass Index."

Citation Source: - - http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/yrbs99/chapter10.html N/A. New URL: - http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/99yrbs10.pdf - http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/chapter10.html . - Download Page:  http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/99/default.html .
 

Results: Sexual Orientation/ Same-Sex Sexual Contact

Four percent (4.2%) of all students reported having same-sex sexual experience at some time; percentages of youth with same-sex sexual experience were the same for males and females. Most adolescents (52%) who have had same-sex sexual experience identify themselves as heterosexual; an additional 12% of these youth identify themselves as "not sure" of their sexual orientation.

In all, 5.5% of all students and 9.4% of sexually experienced students could be considered "sexual minority" youth; that is, they have had same-sex sexual contact and/or describe themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

Among adolescents with any history of sexual activity, sexual minority youth were more likely than their peers to report other sexual risks, including:

• having had four or more sexual partners during lifetime (39% vs. 21%),
• having experienced sexual contact against their will (37% vs. 16%),
• having been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (19% vs. 4%), and

having ever been or gotten someone pregnant (18% vs. 8%).⁶⁰

Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students

The MYRBS found that:

• 2.8 percent of students surveyed described themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
• 5.5 percent of all students described themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual and/or reported same-sex sexual contact.

Students at Risk

Students who described themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual were significantly more likely than their peers to report attacks, suicide attempts and drug and alcohol use. When compared to peers, this group was:

• over four times more likely to have attempted suicide
• over three times more likely to miss school because of feeling unsafe
• three times more likely to have been injured or threatened with a weapon at school

Reported Behaviors	GLB Students*	Other Students
Attempted suicide in the past year	32.8 %	7.6%
Required medical attention as a result of a suicide attempt	18.5%	3.7%
Skipped school in the past month because of feeling unsafe on route to or at school	20.0%	6.0%
Was threatened/injured with a weapon at school in the past year	24.4%	8.2%
Was In a physical fight resulting in treatment by doctor or nurse	20.3%	4.2%

Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts (1997)

Demographic Results: "Two percent (2.0%) of students (1.6% of males, 2.4% of females) describe themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. One fourth (26%) of these students have had no sexual experience in their lives. - Three percent (3.0%) of all students (3.5% of males, 2.4% of females) have at some time had same-sex sexual experience. About one percent (0.9%) of students both identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and have had same-sex sexual experience. - In all, 4.0% of all students, and 6.1% of sexually active students have had some same-sex sexual contact and/or describe themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual."

Considering only adolescents with any history of sexual activity, those who described themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and/or who had ever had any same-sex sexual partner were more likely than other sexually experienced students to report other sexual risk behaviors, including:

having had four or more sexual partners during lifetime (44% vs. 24%),

having experienced sexual contact against their will (56% vs. 18%),

having used alcohol or drugs prior to last sexual intercourse (36% vs. 23%), and

having ever been or gotten someone pregnant (24% vs. 12%) 53

Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts (1995)

Garofalo R, Wolf RC, R, Lawrence MS, and Wissow S (1999). Sexual orientation and risk of suicide attempts among a representative sample of youth. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 153(5), 487-93. Abstract from APAM web site. Related Reuters' article (May, 1999): Gay, lesbian adolescents face high suicide risk. (Alternate Link)

Research Highlights:

The study is an analysis of 3.8% of public school students reporting being GLBN (gay, lesbian, bisexual, or "not sure" of their sexual orientation), and 96.2% reporting being heterosexual, their average age being 16.1 years. Latter group includes individuals reporting same-sex activity, but not identifying as GLBN, or 0.81% of the sample. The 1.9% percent of the sample reporting same-sex activity had a suicide attempt rate (for the past 12 months) of 30.6% versus 9.2% for their heterosexual counterpart. The suicide attempt rate for adolescents identified as GLBN was 31.0% versus 9.1% for heterosexual identified adolescents, .22.7% versus 9.1% for adolescents "not sure" of sexual orientation, and 35.3% versus 9.1% for GLB adolescents (not including "not sure" adolescents). GLBN adolescents also at significantly greater risk than heterosexual adolescents for receiving a high score on the three "risk behaviors" scales used for analysis (p < .001): (1) drug use, (2) sexual behavior, and (3) violence / victimization. Given that 18.3% of adolescents did not answer either the sexual orientation question (11%) or the suicide attempt question (10%), the analysis applies only to 81.7% of the total sample: N = 3365 out of 4167 students.

Result of bivariate analysis: GLBN adolescents were 3.4 times more likely (p < .001) than heterosexual adolescents to report a suicide attempt in the past 12 months (31.0% versus 9.1%). For females, reporting a suicide attempt was 2.02 times more likely (p < .006) for LBN adolescents. For males, reporting a suicide attempt was 6.5 times more likely (p < .001) for GBN adolescents.

Result of logistic regression - OR (Odds Ratio) - for cited factor predicting a suicide attempt in the past 12 months:

Males and Females: female (4.43), GLBN (2.28), Hispanic/Latino (2.21), Violence/Victimization (2.06).

Females Only: Hispanic/Latino (2.66), Violence/Victimization (2.35), LBN (1.42); LBN orientation not statistically significant predictor of suicide attempt.

Males Only: GBN (3.74), Hispanic/Latino (1.66), Violence/Victimization (2.35); GLBN orientation statistically significant predictor of suicide attempt.

Comments: Being "female"  is the best predictor of a suicide attempt but, in itself, this factor explains absolutely nothing about why females are at greater risk for attempting suicide. The same applies for being Latino/Hispanic, GLBN, and GBN (in male category). Although the authors stated that GBN males were 6.5 times more likely than heterosexual males to report a suicide attempt, it was maybe thought unimportant to report the percentage of suicide attempters in each category, but males had a suicide attempt rate of  6.4%. Using an estimate of about 4.7% for GBN males (3.8% GB males + .0.9% "not sure") in calculations, the relative rate of suicide attempters would be 33% versus 5.1% for GBN males compared to heterosexual males, with another estimate also made possible. About one quarter - 24.3% -  of male suicide attempters are in the GBN category. Stated otherwise, 4.7% of the students in the GBN category account for about 25% of the male suicide attempt problem.

Missing form this calculation, however, are the male reporting same-gender sexual activity but not identifying as GBN. It is reported that 1.8% of students were in this category and that 55% of them identified as GLBN, while 45% (0.81% of students) identified as heterosexual. This group as a whole, however, has a suicide attempt rate of 30.6%, meaning that maybe the "0.81%" (percentage not given for males only) should have not been placed in the "heterosexual" category - even if they identified as such - given that many in this group are on the path to later GLB identification - as is often reported to have been the case for many GLB adults when reporting on their adolescent years and their often serious problems related to identifying as GLB in spite of most obvious - and acted upon - homosexual desires. Given that this "at risk" group should have been included  to the above calculation, the results may have been that GBN males, including the homosexually active ones self-identifying as heterosexual (for a total of about 5.5% of male subjects), would likely account for more that a quarter (+25%) of the male adolescent suicide attempt problem.

Caveats noted in the study - and especially the ones noted in the Caveat Alert, indicate that the "24.3%" would be an absolute minimum, as would be the "6.5-times" greater risk factor for a suicide attempt by GBN males. In fact, the results of the Turner et al. (1998) study of males aged 16-19 years indicate that, at least with respect to "homo-sex" activity, about 80% of adolescent homo-active males will omit this information on pencil-and-paper questionnaires - the data intake method used in YRBS studies - compared to computer-based data intake methods. A version of the latter was used in the Bagley & Tremblay (1997) study of 750 randomly sampled males ranging in age from 18 to 27 years. The results produced an estimate for lifetime "suicide attempts" to the average age of about 22.5 years, About 11% of homosexually oriented males (defined on the basis of homosexual or bisexual self-identification and/or "being currently homosexual active" (but may not identify as homosexual or bisexual) accounted for 62.5% of the male youth attempted suicide problem. These males were also 14-times more likely than other males to report a suicide attempt.
 

Garofalo R, Wolf RC, Kessel S, Palfrey J, and DuRant RH (1998). The association between health risk behaviors and sexual orientation among a school-based sample of adolescents. Pediatrics, 101(5), 895-902. (Pediatrics Web site "abstract" link.  Related press release by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Note disclaimer at bottom of press release. For AAP  Policy Statement in the form of the 1993 article Homosexuality and Adolescence published in Pediatrics. . Press Release: Boston Children's Hospital. -  Related "Reuters" article, Chicago, May 4, 1998). - Washington Blade Article. - (A PubMed "abstract" link with article delivery service. If link is not working, access abstract via PubMed's Medline. Place this "unique identifier number" - 98232540 - in SEARCH window.)

Research Highlights: - A random sample of 4159 grade 9 to 12 Massachusetts students completed the Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 1995. The survey instrument, however, was amended to solicit sexual orientation information, thus making possible "risk behavior" comparisons on this basis.

Compared to heterosexual-identified adolescents, homosexually-identified adolescents (gay, bisexual, and lesbian, forming 2.5% of the student population) were:

3.6 times more likely to attempt suicide in the past 12 months (35.5% vs 9.9%)

14.4 times more likely to have used cocaine before the age of 13 (17.3% vs 1.2%)

9.4 times more likely to have used cocaine in last 30 days (25.3% vs 2.7%)

4.8 times more likely to have used cocaine in lifetime (33% vs 6.9%)

8.9 times more likely to have used crack or freebase use in lifetime (35.3% vs 3.5%)

14.1 times more likely to have shared needles for illicit drug use in lifetime (15.5% vs 1.1%)

6.4 times more likely to have used anabolic steroids in lifetime (25% vs 3.9%)

9.6 times more likely to have injected illegal drugs in lifetime (22.2% vs 2.3%)

2.6 times more likely to have been in a fight at school in the past 12 months (38.1% vs 14.4%)

3.4 times more likely that a fighting injury required medical treatment in the past 12 months (14% vs 4.1%)

4.9 times more likely to have missed school in the last 30 days because of fear (25.1% vs 5.1%)

2.8 times more likely to have brought a weapon to school in the last 30 days (25.3% vs 8.9%)

5 times more likely to have brought a gun to school in the last 30 days (24.7% vs 4.9%)

4.6 times more likely to have been threatened with a weapon at school in the last 30 days (32.7% vs 7.1%)

5.1 times more likely to have had more than 3 sexual partners in last 3 months (37.9% vs 5.1%)

3.6 times more likely to have experienced sex against their will in lifetime (32.5% vs 9.1%)

All the above and a number of other risk behaviors (with lesser magnitude of relative risk) were significantly different at the p < .00001 level.

Additional research results are available via "abstract" links listed above.

Information Sources: http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/yrb95/yrb95ltr.html N/A . New URL: - http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/95/ . .- Table of Contents -  Summary of Results by SIECUS in SHOP Talk (School Health Opportunities and Progress) Bulletin, Vol. 3(5), 1998: - Health Risk Behaviors and Sexual Orientation Among Adolescents.- The GLBT Health Access Project [A collaborative project initiated in 1996 by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), and its founding partners Justice Resource Institute (JRI), The Medical Foundation (TMF), and JSI Research and Training (JSI)]: GLBT Health Concerns in Massachusetts: Highlights of Recent Research.
 

Suicide Information Summary available from the Massachusetts' Department of Education -  1995 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey at  - http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/yrb95/yrb95ltr.html N/A - New URL: - http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/95/ , and from data made available in Sexual Orientation and Youth Suicide by Lynne Levine & Linda Beeler. Paper presented at Defining the Problem and Meeting The Challenge: Third Bi-Regional Adolescent Suicide Prevention Conference held in Breckenridge, Colorado, September, 1997.

From: the "Sexual Behaviors" section of the file - http://www.doe.mass.edu/hssss/yrb95/yrb95111.html#c6 N/A. - New URL: - http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/yrbs/95/yrb95111.html#c6 .

Students who describe themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and/or who have had same-sex sexual contact are more likely than their peers to report being involved in violence-related incidences and being threatened, including:

• being in a physical fight in the past year (62.3% vs. 37.3%),
• not going to school in the past month because of feeling unsafe at school or on the way to or from school (20.1% vs. 4.5%),
• being threatened/injured with a weapon at school in the past year (66.7% vs. 28.8%),
• carrying a weapon in the past month (43.5% vs. 19.0%), and
• attempting suicide in the past year (36.5% vs. 8.9%).

• heavy alcohol use (5+ drinks in a row) in the past 30 days (47.6% vs. 33.2%),
• recent marijuana use (58.0% vs. 31.3%), and
• lifetime cocaine use (31.0% vs. 6.8%).

4.4% of high school students (grades 9-12) identified as gay, lesbian. or bisexual, and/or reported same-gender sexual activity.

These 'GLB' adolescents were..... (compared to other adolescents):

1.9 times more likely to have considered suicide in the past year (48.8% vs 24.6%).

2.3 times more likely to have planned a suicide in the past year (40.5% vs 17.5%).

4.0 times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year (36.0% vs 8.9%).

Comment: - Given that 4.4% of students either self-identified or reported same-gender sexual activity, and that 2.5% are said to self-identify (Garofalo et al., 1998), 1.9% of students would therefore be homosexually active but not-self-identifying as gay, lesbian. or bisexual. According to Garofalo et al. (1998), the risk of GLB adolescents for attempting suicide in the past year was 35.5% compared to 9.9% for heterosexual-identified adolescents. Adding the "1.9%" homosexually active but  non-GLB-identifying student to the "2.5%" self-identifying group (for a total of 4.4%) did not cause a significant difference in "suicide attempt" results: In fact, above, Garofalo et al (1999), reports that the 1.8% of adolescents reporting homosexual activity had a suicide attempt rate of 30.6%.

Of the "4.4%" of homosexually oriented students (based either on self-identification or being homosexually active), 36% reported a suicide attempted in the past year compared to 8.9% for "non-GLB" students according to Levine & Beeler (1997). or "their peers" according to Massachusetts' 1995 YRBS's "Sexual Behavior" section.

Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts (1993)

Highlights: - From a 1993 sample of 3054 grades 9 to 12 students in Massachusetts: 1668 (57%) report having been sexually active with opposite sex only (heterosexual intercourse, 48.7%), both sexes (bisexual, 1.7%), and same-sex only (homosexual, 2.0%), for a total of 3.7% of students being homosexually active by the average age of 16 years. Homosexually active students were "more likely to report fighting and victimization, frequent use of alcohol, other drug use, and recent suicidal behaviors."

Compared to heterosexually active adolescents, homosexually active adolescents were:

1.5-times more likely to have considered suicide (41.7% vs 28.6%).

2.1-times ,more likely to have attempted suicide once (27.5% vs 13.4%).

4.2-times more likely to have made a suicide attempt requiring medical attention (20.0% vs 4.7%).

8.1-times more likely to have attempted suicide 4 or more times (16.1% vs 2.0%).

All the above are statistically significant at p < .05
 

Homosexually active adolescents were also more at risk for manifesting behaviors, and/or having experiences which may be associated with adolescent (even adult) suicide problems.

Compared to heterosexually active adolescents, homosexually active adolescents were:

4.0-times more likely to be involved in episodic heavy