An Intersectional Modeling of Risk for Nonsuicidal Self-Injury among LGBTQ Adolescents

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is described as the intentional destruction of one’s own bodily tissue without lethal intent and is a common behavior among adolescents and young adults. While previous research highlights the disparities regarding non-suicidal self-injury for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer/questioning, and transgender students, few studies examine the nuances between sexual orientation and gender identity. This study (N = 10,330) uses the 2015 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey to examine variations in adolescents’ risk and protective factors based on the intersection of sexual orientation and gender identity. This study investigates how these identities along with other known risk factors impact the likelihood of engaging in non-suicidal self-injury. Results from this study indicate that non-suicidal self-injury is a common experience among lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer/questioning, and transgender youth and that the likelihood of these experiences are differential based on the intersection of sexual orientation and gender identity.