TY - JOUR PY - 2018// TI - Role of sleep quality in mediating the relationship between sexual minority status and suicidal behavior among Chinese adolescents JO - Psychology research and behavior management A1 - Huang, Yeen A1 - Li, Pengsheng A1 - Lai, Zhisheng A1 - Jia, Xiaofei A1 - Xiao, Di A1 - Wang, Tian A1 - Guo, Lan A1 - Lu, Ciyong SP - 607 EP - 615 VL - 11 IS - N2 - BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that sexual minority adolescents experience higher rates of sleep disturbance than their heterosexual peers, and disturbed sleep is a well-known risk factor for suicidality. This study aimed to explore whether sleep quality had mediating effects on the relationship between sexual minority status and suicidal behavior in Chinese adolescents.

METHODS: We analyzed data collected from 7th to 12th graders from seven randomly selected provinces of People's Republic of China in the 2015 School-Based Chinese Adolescents Health Survey. The 123,459 students who completed questionnaires regarding sexual attraction, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, past-year suicidal ideation, and past-year suicide attempts were included in our study (response rate: 95.9%).

RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates, sexual minority status was associated with suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio =1.82, 95% CI=1.69-1.95) and suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio =2.16, 95% CI=1.82-2.56). Sleep quality partially mediated the effects of sexual minority status on suicidal ideation (standardized β estimate=0.009, 95% CI=0.007-0.012) and suicide attempts (standardized β estimate=0.004, 95% CI=0.003-0.005).

CONCLUSION: Poor sleep quality partially explained the increased risk of suicidality for Chinese sexual minority adolescents. To prevent subsequent suicidality, suicide interventions targeting sexual minorities should be made, with a focus on their disparities in sleep disturbance and sleep health promotion.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1179-1578 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S186586 ID - ref1 ER -