Report

Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Suicide Ideation and Attempt Among Sexual Minority Adults

United States, 2016-2018
June 2020

Using data from the Generations Study, this report examines whether experiencing conversion therapy is associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among non-transgender LGB people after controlling for adverse childhood experiences. It was published in Research and Practice in May 2020.

AUTHORS
  • John R. Blosnich
    Assistant Professor, University of Southern California
  • Emmett R. Henderson
    Doctoral Student, University of Pittsburgh
  • Robert W.S. Coulter
    Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh
  • Jeremy T. Goldbach
    Associate Professor, University of Southern California
  • Ilan H. Meyer
    Distinguished Senior Scholar of Public Policy
Highlights
LGB people who underwent conversion therapy were nearly twice as likely to think about and attempt suicide compared to their peers.
LGB people who experienced adverse childhood experiences were more likely to have undergone conversion therapy.
Four out of five people who received conversion therapy received it from a religious leader.
Data Points
7%
of non-transgender LGB people in the U.S. have experienced conversion therapy

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Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Suicide Ideation and Attempt Among Sexual Minority Adults