Publications Health & HIV/AIDS

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

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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

81%

of LGB people received it from a religious leader

31%

received it from a health care provider

Please contact our communications office to request a copy of this study.

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