FACTORS INFLUENCING SUICIDE INTENT IN GAY AND BISEXUAL SUICIDE IDEATORS - DIFFERING MODELS FOR MEN WITH AND WITHOUT HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

Of 778 gay and bisexual men (none with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]), 27% n = 212 reported suicidal ideation over the previous 6 months. Covariance structure models were used to explore predictors of suicide intent among n = 112 suicide ideators with n = 100 and without n = 112 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Current AIDS-related stressors (deaths and illnesses and perceived AIDS risk) and past levels of adaptive functioning (social isolation and depression) were significantly more powerful predictors of suicide intent among HIV-positive than among HIV-negative ideators. Biological AIDS risk predicted neither suicide intent, current distress, nor perceived AIDS risk. Pathways to suicide intent appear to be psychologically, rather than biologically, mediated. Among HIV-positive ideators, AIDS-related death and illness events predicted suicide intent but not current distress symptoms. Some suicidal ideation in response to AIDS-related events may be an effort to cope rather than a manifestation of psychological distress.