An Initial Exploration of Mechanisms Contributing to Higher Suicidal Ideation in Bisexual plus Compared to Lesbian/Gay Individuals

Despite well-documented disparities in suicide rates among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals, the mechanisms underlying suicidal ideation (SI) in different subgroups of the sexual minority (SM) population remain understudied. This study seeks to elucidate the factors underpinning the associations between sexual orientation and SI, focusing on bi+ individuals (i.e., bisexual and other nonmonosexual identities) in comparison to their lesbian/gay counterparts. We conducted an exploratory mediation analysis among 516 SM individuals to identify mediators in the sexual orientation (bisexual [bi+] vs. lesbian/gay)-SI association. The model included 38 potential mediators, which simultaneously encompassed 18 items related to interpersonal relationships (e.g., community, family, friends, and general relationships), six items related to mental health, and 14 items associated with SM-related stress and stigma (e.g., felt stigma, experiences of victimization and discrimination, and internalized homophobia). The preliminary results revealed that bi+ individuals were more likely to report SI than their lesbian/gay counterparts. The exploratory mediation analysis model identified influential mediators-including mental health symptoms, perceived discrimination, lack of support, and loneliness-where bi+ individuals scored higher on these mediators, which was, in turn, linked to higher SI. The findings underscore that bi+ individuals face unique challenges compared to their lesbian/gay counterparts, highlighting the importance of developing tailored interventions targeting specific stressors and stigmas to reduce suicide risk within this community effectively.