Examining the Role of Intersectionality with Risk and Protective Factors in Suicidal Ideation: Insights from the 2022- 2023 California Health Kids Survey

<p>Critical suicidology aims to broaden traditional suicidology and theories by critically engaging with discourse, power dynamics, and social histories to draw attention on how social systems and structures affect an individual’s experience with suicidal behavior. This study was grounded by critical suicidology and investigated suicidal ideation in secondary school-age students by using an intersecting lens. The 2022 – 2023 California Healthy Kids Survey, and accompanying Mental Health Supports Module and Trauma Module, were used to identify both risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation. A series of binary logistic regression models were conducted to predict the likelihood of an individual reporting suicidal ideation based demographic variables, including race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. Additional independent variables included two-way interaction, three-way interaction, bullying experiences, school connectedness, access to mental health, and having a trusted person. Results consistently found that sexual minority students had high rates of suicidal ideation when accounting for race/ethnicity, gender, intersectionality, bullying experiences, mental health access, and having a trusted person. In addition, gender nonconforming students also had elevated rates of suicidal ideation in all models. Another risk factor was bullying, as experiences with bullying continued to increase rates of suicidal ideation. Protective factors of school connectedness and having a trusted parent showed decreases in the rates of suicidal ideation. An overarching finding was that having multiple marginalized identities does not linearly increase risk. These findings demonstrate the importance of understanding the nuances of suicidal ideation. Future research should continue to expand on the role that intersecting demographic variables have on rates of suicidal ideation while considering risk and protective factors. To continue expanding this field, future research should consider alternate methods, examining additional marginalized identities, and additional protective factors.</p> <p>Critical suicidology aims to broaden traditional suicidology and theories by critically engaging with discourse, power dynamics, and social histories to draw attention on how social systems and structures affect an individual’s experience with suicidal behavior. This study was grounded by critical suicidology and investigated suicidal ideation in secondary school-age students by using an intersecting lens. The 2022 – 2023 California Healthy Kids Survey, and accompanying Mental Health Supports Module and Trauma Module, were used to identify both risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation. A series of binary logistic regression models were conducted to predict the likelihood of an individual reporting suicidal ideation based demographic variables, including race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. Additional independent variables included two-way interaction, three-way interaction, bullying experiences, school connectedness, access to mental health, and having a trusted person. Results consistently found that sexual minority students had high rates of suicidal ideation when accounting for race/ethnicity, gender, intersectionality, bullying experiences, mental health access, and having a trusted person. In addition, gender nonconforming students also had elevated rates of suicidal ideation in all models. Another risk factor was bullying, as experiences with bullying continued to increase rates of suicidal ideation. Protective factors of school connectedness and having a trusted parent showed decreases in the rates of suicidal ideation. An overarching finding was that having multiple marginalized identities does not linearly increase risk. These findings demonstrate the importance of understanding the nuances of suicidal ideation. Future research should continue to expand on the role that intersecting demographic variables have on rates of suicidal ideation while considering risk and protective factors. To continue expanding this field, future research should consider alternate methods, examining additional marginalized identities, and additional protective factors.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Year

2025

Author dc:creator

• Madrid, Sarah E

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Jared Izumi
• Dr. Amy-Jane Griffiths
• Dr. Jennifer Kolb

• suicidal ideation
• intersectionality
• California Healthy Kids Survey
• School Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/education_dissertations/102

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.chapman.edu:education_dissertations-1101