Publication Date
8-2025
Advisor(s) - Committee Chair
Amy Brausch, Diane Lickenbrock, Lance Hahn
Degree Program
Department of Psychological Sciences
Degree Type
Master of Science
Abstract
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents, with rates increasing over recent decades (Multiple Cause of Death, 2018-2023, Single Race Request, n.d.). Sexual minority adolescents are particularly vulnerable, with 41% reporting suicidal ideation annually (2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, n.d.). Entrapment, a key factor linked to suicidal ideation, is experienced at higher levels in sexual minority individuals (Cramer et al., 2024; Rasmussen et al., 2021) and is strongly associated with suicide risk in this group (Cramer et al., 2024; Li et al., 2016; Parra et al., 2021). While research has focused on cognitive factors in this relationship (e.g., Li et al., 2021; Pollak et al., 2021), less is known about the role of social determinants of health, such as access to healthcare, food and housing stability, and social support—particularly in underserved sexual minority populations. This study examined differences in entrapment, suicide ideation, and social determinants of health between sexual minority and heterosexual adolescents at an underserved high school. It also explored whether these social determinants of health moderated the entrapment-suicide ideation relationship, and whether it varied by sexual minority status. Sexual minority adolescents reported higher levels of entrapment and suicidal ideation, longer durations without healthcare access, and lower levels of social support. Food insecurity and classmate support emerged as significant moderators. Specifically, classmate support weakened the association of entrapment and suicidal ideation for sexual minority students, while the opposite was true for heterosexual students. High food insecurity strengthened the association between entrapment and suicidal ideation for heterosexual students, but it did not impact this relationship for sexual minority students. These findings suggest that specific social determinants of health may either protect against or exacerbate suicide risk in sexual minority adolescent populations.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental and Social Health | Psychology | Public Health | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Howd, Chelsea, "ENTRAPMENT, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, AND SUICIDE IDEATION AMONG SEXUAL MINORITY ADOLESCENTS IN UNDERSERVED SETTINGS" (2025). Masters Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 3853.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/3853
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