Relationship Status and Suicidal Behavior in Gay Men: The Role of Thwarted Belongingness and Hope
- Authors: Riley, Kym , McLaren, Suzanne
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior Vol. 49, no. 5 (Oct 2019), p. 1452-1462
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- Description: ObjectiveLevels of suicidal behavior among gay men are a significant concern. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide proposes that being unpartnered is a risk factor for suicidal behavior due to thwarted belongingness; however, this has yet to be tested empirically. Recent studies also indicate that the two components of hope, agency and pathways, may be protective against suicidal behavior. The first aim of the current study was to investigate whether thwarted belongingness mediates the relationship between relationship status and suicidal behavior in gay men. The study also examined whether agency and pathways weaken the association between relationship status and thwarted belongingness, and whether agency weakens the relation between thwarted belongingness and suicidal behavior. MethodA sample of 370 self-identified gay men aged from 18 to 66 years old (M = 26.13, SD = 8.02) completed the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-Revised, and the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale. ResultsResults showed that thwarted belongingness mediated the relationship between relationship status and suicidal behavior. The hypothesized moderated-mediation models were not supported. ConclusionsThese findings have implications for the development of interventions that aim to reduce suicidal behaviors in gay men.
Out & Online effectiveness of a tailored online multi-symptom mental health and wellbeing program for same-sex attracted young adults: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
- Authors: Abbott, Jo-Anne , Klein, Britt , McLaren, Suzanne , Austin, David , Molloy, Mari , Meyer, Denny , McLeod, Bronte
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Trials Vol. 15, no. 1 (2014), p. 1-19
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- Description: Background: Same-sex attracted young adults have been found to experience higher rates of mental health problems and greater difficulties in accessing specialist mental health care services compared to their heterosexual peers. Internet-based mental health interventions have the potential to be more engaging and accessible to young adults compared to those delivered face-to-face. However, they are rarely inclusive of lesbian women and gay men. Thus, the current study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an online mental health and wellbeing program, Out & Online (http://www.outandonline.org.au), in comparison to a wait-list control group, for reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms in same-sex attracted young adults aged between 18 and 25 years. Methods/Design: We are recruiting, through media and community organisations, 200 same-sex attracted young adults with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms and mild to moderate psychological distress (Kessler-10 score between 16 to 21). Participants will be randomly allocated to the intervention (the online program) or the wait-list control group based on a permuted blocked randomisation method to allow for stratification by gender. Participants in the intervention group will receive a tailored program for up to three types of mental health difficulties simultaneously. The primary outcome of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, and secondary outcomes related to psychological distress, wellbeing and health behaviour will be measured at pre-intervention (0 week), post-intervention (8 weeks) and at a 3-month follow-up (20 weeks). Discussion: This online mental health and wellbeing program will be one of the first online interventions to be designed specifically to be relevant for same-sex attracted individuals. If the program is found to be effective it will improve access to specialist same-sex attracted-relevant mental health services for young adults and will facilitate wellbeing outcomes for these individuals. This program will also be a significant development in the delivery of tailored interventions that target multiple types of mental health conditions simultaneously. © 2014 Abbott et al.
Sexual orientation, sense of belonging and depression in Australian men
- Authors: Jude, Belinda , McLaren, Suzanne , McLachlan, Angus
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Men's Health Vol. 6, no. 3 (2007), p. 259-272
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- Description: This research examined whether a sense of belonging in the community and sexual orientation were associated with depression among men. Australian heterosexual (n=136) and gay (n=137) men wre recruited through a variety of media, including newpapers, radio, and email, and directly at public events and in the street. Responses on the Sense of Belonging Instrument and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales indicated that gay ment reported lower levels of sense of belonging to the community and higher levels of depression compared with heterosexual men. Results revealed that sense of belonging to the community mediated the relation between sexual orientation and depression. The findings did not support the additive or moderation models. The results imply that, for the mental health of gay men to improve, their sense of belonging needs to increase but that a reduction in the level of homophobia in the general community would seem necessary for this to occur.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005759
The interrelations between sexual orientation, sense of belonging and dysphoria among Australian women
- Authors: McLaren, Suzanne
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Women and Health Vol. 43, no. 3 (2006), p. 123-137
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- Description: This research examined whether sense of belonging in the community and sexual orientation were associated with dysphoria among women. Australian female heterosexuals (n = 202) and lesbians (n = 184) completed the Sense of Belonging Instrument and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales. Results indicated that lesbians experienced a decreased sense of belonging and more dysphoria compared with heterosexual women. Subsequent analyses indicated that sense of belonging to the community mediated the relation between sexual orientation and dysphoria. In addition, sexual orientation moderated the relation between sense of belonging and dysphoria. It appears that the enhancement of lesbians' sense of belonging in the community would be associated with a reduction in dysphoria. Copyright © by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001983
From Mardi Gras to Manangatang : Sense of belonging and mental health in Australian men as a function of sexual orientation
- Authors: Jude, Belinda , McLaren, Suzanne , McLachlan, Angus
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Psychology Vol. 55, no. (2003), p. 187
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