The Role of Social Connectedness and Sexual Orientation in the Prevention of Youth Suicide Ideation and Attempts Among Sexually Active Adolescents

The impact of types of social connectedness—family, other adult, and school—on suicide ideation and attempts among all youth, the relative impact of each type, and effect modification by sexual orientation was assessed. Data were from the 2007–2009 Milwaukee Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. Multivariable logistic regression analyses calculated the risk of suicide ideation and attempts by sexual orientation, types of social connectedness, and their interaction. Among all youth, each type of connectedness modeled singly conferred protective effects for suicide ideation. Family and other adult connectedness protected against suicide attempts. When modeled simultaneously, family connectedness protected against ideation and attempts. Sexual orientation modified the association between other adult connectedness and suicide ideation. Findings suggest that family connectedness confers the most consistent protection among all youth and sexual orientation does not generally modify the association between connectedness and suicidal behavior.     

Psychosocial stress and social support are associated with prostate-specific antigen levels in men: results from a community screening program.

Perceived stress and satisfaction with social support were assessed in 318 men participating in a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening program. We predicted that high stress would be associated with high PSA and high social support with low PSA. We also predicted a Stress x Support interaction (buffering). Hypothesized main effects were confirmed and were not explained by recency of previous rectal examinations or current urinary symptoms. There was no evidence of buffering. Stress and social support were not associated with results of digital rectal examinations. These findings raise the possibility that psychosocial factors promote prostate disease through direct physiologic pathways. However, it is also possible that the data reflect effects of stress on health-related behaviors or that stress scores were affected by participants' anticipation of prostate problems on the basis of prior PSA tests or symptoms.