Date of Award

January 2016

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Studies

First Advisor

Heather L Servaty-Seib

Committee Member 1

Ayse Ciftci

Committee Member 2

Eric D Deemer

Committee Member 3

Susan L Prieto-Welch

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) college students are among the most vulnerable to suicidal ideation and behaviors when compared to both heterosexual college students and other, generally older, members of the LGB community (Oswalt & Wyatt, 2011). Joiner’s (2005) interpersonal psychological theory of suicide seems to be a possible framework for conceptualizing suicidal ideation and behaviors for LGB college students. Joiner (2005) posited that perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are associated with suicidal ideation and that acquired capability is related to suicidal behaviors. With respect to thwarted belongingness, researchers have posited that LGB college students have four primary interpersonal connections, which are to their family, peers, academic institution, and sexual orientation community (Haas et al., 2011). In the present study, I examined whether or not LGB and heterosexual college students differed with respect to their reported levels of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness (i.e., family, peer, academic institution, and sexual orientation community), acquired capability, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviors. I also examined whether or not sexual orientation (i.e., LGB or heterosexual) moderated the relationships between: (a) perceived burdensomeness and suicidal ideation, (b) the spheres of belongingness (i.e., family, peer, academic institution, and sexual orientation community) and suicidal ideation, and (c) acquired capability and suicidal behaviors. I collected online survey data from 268 undergraduate students (i.e., 100 LGB and 168 heterosexual) and analyzed the data using MANCOVA and invariance testing via a path model. The results suggested that LGB college students may experience higher levels of discrimination as compared to heterosexual participants. Additionally, the results suggested that LGB and heterosexual college students significantly differed with respect to their reported levels of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness (i.e., family, peer, academic institution, and sexual orientation community), suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviors. Specifically, LGB participants exhibited higher levels of perceived burdensomeness, sexual orientation community belongingness, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviors as compared to heterosexual participants. LGB participants exhibited lower levels of family belongingness, peer belongingness, and academic institution belongingness as compared to heterosexual participants. Additionally, the results indicated that the positive relationship between perceived burdensomeness and suicidal ideation was statistically significant for both LGB and heterosexual college students. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the relationship between perceived burdensomeness and suicidal ideation for LGB and heterosexual college students. The results also suggested that sexual orientation moderated the relationships between: (a) family belongingness and suicidal ideation and (b) peer belongingness and suicidal ideation. Specifically, the significant negative relationships between (a) family belongingness and suicidal ideation and (b) peer belongingness and suicidal ideation for LGB participants were not present for their heterosexual peers. The results of the present study have the potential to aid in the development of LGB-specific therapeutic interventions, outreach efforts, educational and

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