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Symposia

Suicide and Self-Injury

Daily Life Research on Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors among LGBTQ+ Individuals: Towards Understanding Momentary Mechanisms in a High-Risk Population

3 - (SYM 76) Harmful Narratives: The Effects of Anti-trans News on Suicidal Ideation Among Gender Diverse Adults in Daily Life

Sunday, November 23, 2025
2:39 PM - 2:56 PM CST
Location: Strand 13A&B, Level 2
Keywords: Suicide, Self-Injury, LGBTQ+
Recommended Readings: Testa, R. J., Michaels, M. S., Bliss, W., Rogers, M. L., Balsam, K. F., & Joiner, T. (2017). Suicidal ideation in transgender people: Gender minority stress and interpersonal theory factors. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 126(1), 125.,   Nicholas, J., & Bresin, K. (2024). Everyday sexual and gender minority stress and health: A systematic review of experience sampling studies. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 53(4), 1221-1243.,   Kohnepoushi, P., Nikouei, M., Cheraghi, M., Hasanabadi, P., Rahmani, H., Moradi, M., ... & Moradi, Y. (2023). Prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts in the transgender population of the world: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of General Psychiatry, 22(1), 28.,   Mereish, E. H., Peters, J. R., Brick, L. A., Killam, M. A., & Yen, S. (2023). A daily diary study of minority stressors, suicidal ideation, nonsuicidal self-injury ideation, and affective mechanisms among sexual and gender minority youth. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 132(4), 372.,  
Trans and nonbinary individuals (TNB) are at an elevated risk of suicidal ideation (SI) compared to their cisgender and/or heterosexual counterparts (Kirakosian et al., 2023; et al., 2023). These disparities are often attributed to the unique internal and external minority stressors TNB individuals face, such as internalized transphobia, concealment, victimization, and rejection (Pellicane and Ciesla, 2022; Testa et al., 2018). However, with an ever-increasing number of anti-trans bills proposed in the United States (Trans Legislation Tracker, 2024), exposure to anti-trans news is another potential stressor that has overlooked, particularly using methods that can capture influences in real time. As such, the present study uses ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to assess the relationships between anti-trans news exposure, negative affect (NA, an established precipitant of SI), and SI among TNB adults.


= 57) were TNB adults with past-week SI who were receiving psychotherapy. Participants completed a 4-week EMA protocol (6 surveys/day). Since last survey exposure to anti-trans news was measured categorically (0 not at all – 4 very much). NA and current SI were calculated as means of 10 and 2 items, respectively, rated on the same 0-4 scale. Dynamic structural equation modeling was used to estimate within- and between-person relationships over a two-hour interval. 



  



At the within-person level, controlling for SI stability over time (β = .59), there was a small significant effect of news exposure on increased SI (β = .08). However, this effect was not significant at the between-person level (β = .09, 95% CI = [-.18, .34]). News exposure also predicted within-person NA (β = .10) after controlling for change in NA from one time point to the next (β = .57). Further, controlling for SI stability (β = .42) and the association of NA change on SI (β = .43), anti-trans news exposure predicted within-person increases in SI (β = .04). At the between-person level, aggregated NA (β = .83), but not news exposure (β = .09, 95% CI = [-.18, .35]) predicted SI. 



  



Among high-risk TNB adults, we observed a direct and indirect effect of anti-trans news exposure on SI within individuals. These results align with broader research indicating systemic discrimination and media negativity can exacerbate mental health struggles in TNB populations. However, we did not account for the types of news (e.g., hate crimes, misinformation) which may have distinct effects on SI, nor did we examine the impact of anti-trans news on first lifetime onset of SI.