Racial/Ethnic, Sex, Sexual Orientation, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Suicidal Trajectories and Mental Health Treatment Among Adolescents Transitioning to Young Adulthood in the USA: A Population-Based Cohort Study

This study aims to: (1) identify racial/ethnic, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectional differences in suicidal trajectories among adolescents transitioning to adulthood; and (2) examine influences of mental health service utilization on disparities in suicidal trajectories. The study included 94 21 respondents (Mage = 14.99 [SD = 1.61]) from Waves I–IV National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (1994–2008). Latent class growth analyses were used to identify trajectories of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the inf luences of mental health treatment and sociodemographic characteristics on suicidal trajectories. Three suicidal ideation (low-stable, high-decreasing, moderate-decreasing-increasing) and two suicide attempt (low-stable, moderate-decreasing) trajectories were identified. Compared with the low-stable trajectories, the risks of being in high-decreasing suicidal ideation trajectories were higher among females (AOR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.01–2.13) and sexual minorities (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.21–2.74). Sexual minorities (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI 1.69–4.08) and low-SES adolescents (AOR = 1.7 9, 95% CI 1.08–2.98) were more likely to be in the moderate-decreasing suicide attempt group. Mental health service utilization predicted engagement in high-risk suicidal trajectories. Sociodemographic disparities in suicidal trajectories initiate earl...
Source: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research