Correlates of Suicidal Ideation Among Sexual Minority Male Students in a Nigerian University

Abstract

Sexual minority men report higher suicidal ideation compared to heterosexual men. As a consequence of the high levels of stigma in Nigeria and most of sub-Saharan Africa, few studies have investigated psychosocial risk factors for suicidal ideation in these settings. The present study aimed to fill this research gap by identifying factors associated with suicidal ideation among Nigerian sexual minority men. Eighty-one sexual minority men were assessed for suicidal ideation, sociodemographic and family background, sexuality-related, minority stress, and psychosocial factors. Childhood adversity, minority-stress factors, and all three psychosocial (intimate partner violence, alcohol use problems and depressive symptoms) variables were significantly associated with increased suicidal ideation (ΔR2= 11%, 15% and 20%, respectively). Our findings highlight the importance of known risk factors for suicidal ideation as well as factors specific to sexual minority men. Recognising these factors may help in identifying young sexual minority men who may require further support in high-stigma settings such as Nigeria.