Victimization and suicidal ideation among LGBQ youth and students with disabilities: an examination of intersecting identities

Previous research examining the associations between suicidality, peer victimization, and school connectedness among individual populations such as students with disabilities and LGBQ students, respectively, reveals that both populations report higher levels of suicidality than their peers. However, no study has examined the intersection of these two identities with regards to suicidal ideation. Using a sample of 11,364 high school students, the current study included multilevel analyses to examine the influence of multiple stigmatized identities, peer victimization, and school connectedness on suicidal ideation. Students identifying with one stigmatized identity reported higher levels of suicidal ideation, while between-person school connectedness buffered and between-person peer victimization exacerbated the effect. Additionally, students who identified with a disability and as LGBQ (n = 264) who were victimized more than their peers reported the highest levels of suicidal ideation. School-based bullying and suicide prevention programs need to consider students with multiple stigmatized identities.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• King, Matthew Terrence

Contributors dc:contributor

• Espelage, Dorothy

• suicidal ideation
• disability
• LGBQ
• intersectionality
• peer victimization
• school connectedness

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Matthew King

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92924

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/92924