NEW RESEARCH: Sexual Orientation Change Efforts: An Important Debate

“Sexual Orientation Change Efforts,” or “SOCE,” describe a number of therapeutic practices designed to help a same-sex attracted individual change his or her attraction to a heterosexual attraction. Sometimes referred to as “conversion therapy,” SOCE has garnered fierce debate, and is actually prohibited in a number of states. In its place, therapists are often urged to use “affirmation therapy,” which counsels the subject to embrace and find comfort with his or her sexuality. Recently, two important papers discussed SOCE as it relates to suicide morbidity. In a paper titled “Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Suicide Ideation and Attempt Among Sexual Minority Adults, United States, 2016-2018,” John R. Blosnich et al. argue that SOCE is associated with higher levels of suicide ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempt, and for “[g]reater awareness of the harms of SOCE.” In response, D. Paul Sullins of the Catholic University of America higlights considerable problems with the methodology used by Blosnich et al. Specifically, after adjusting to include timing of SOCE and suicide morbidity, Sullins finds that SOCE is not associated with higher suicide morbidity and may even offer some protection against suicide in adult populations. To conduct their study, Blosnich et al. gleaned their sample from the Generations study, which assessed health and well-being across three generations of non-transgender, sexual minority adults (lesbian, gay, or bisexual). After applying the study inclusion criteria (which included age and ethnicity parameters), the final sample consisted of 1,518 respondents. Blosnich et al. also measured the prevalence of “adverse childhood events” (ACEs) using 11 items indicated by the CDC, and including things such as living with a mentally ill parent, physical abuse, or sexual abuse. Suicide morbidity was captured using questions indicating suicide ideation, suicide planning, o
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