On Hate Crime Victimization: Rates, Types, And Links With Suicide Risk Among Sexual Orientation Minority Special Interest Group Members

Keywords

depression; hate crimes; post-traumatic stress; Sexual orientation; suicide

Abstract

Hate crimes remain pressing traumatic events for sexual orientation minority adults. Previous literature documents patterns in which hate crime victimization is associated with elevated risk for poor mental health. The present paper held 2 aims to advance literature. First, we investigated the rates and types of hate crime victimization among sexual orientation minority adults. Second, adopting a mental health amplification risk model, we evaluated whether symptoms of depression, impulsivity, or post-traumatic stress exacerbated the hate crime victimization–suicide risk link. Participants were 521 adult sexual orientation minority-identifying members of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (i.e., a bondage and discipline, and sadomasochism-identifying sexuality special interest group). Participants completed demographic and mental health inventories via online administration. Results showed: (1) low rates of total lifetime hate crime victimization and (2) higher rates of interpersonal violence compared to property crime victimization within the sample. Regression results showed: (1) independent positive main effects of all 3 mental health symptom categories with suicide risk; (2) an interaction pattern in which impulsivity was positively associated with suicide risk for non-victims; and (3) an interaction pattern in which post-traumatic stress was positively associated with suicide risk for hate crime victims and non-victims. Results are discussed concerning implications for trauma-informed mental healthcare, mental health amplification models, and hate crime and suicide prevention policies.

Publication Date

8-8-2018

Publication Title

Journal of Trauma and Dissociation

Volume

19

Issue

4

Number of Pages

476-489

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2018.1451972

Socpus ID

85044842139 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85044842139

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