Sexual Fluidity, Connectedness, and Suicidal Thoughts Among Adolescents

<b></b> <i>Background:</i> Sexual fluidity (SF) is common among adolescence and has been previously linked to experiences of psychological distress and suicidal thoughts (ST). <i>Aims:</i> To explore the relationship SF and ST in adolescence while accounting for the impact of school belonging, social connectedness, and parental relationships. <i>Methods:</i> Using W1 and W2 of the ADD Health, participants were categorized into four groups: (1) consistently heterosexual, (2) SF sexual minority (SM) to heterosexual, (3) SF heterosexual to SM, and (4) SM at both waves. <i>Results:</i> Hierarchical logistic regression revealed that sexual fluidity between Waves 1 and 2 was associated with ST with those in the SM-SM group and Het-SM group. However, after accounting for social connectedness, school belonging, and parental relationship, the risk among the sexually fluid group (Het-SM) was no longer significant. Additionally, mediation analysis found that there were no significant indirect effects of sexual fluidity on suicidal thoughts. <i>Limitations:</i> ADD Health W1 and W2 are from the mid-1990s, SM questions are limited in responses, and there are no direct questions relevant to sexual fluidity. <i>Conclusion:</i> Findings suggest that sexual fluidity is related to suicidal thoughts only through its shared relationship with belongingness and connectedness variables. Greater reporting of belonging and connectedness was associated with reductions in reporting of suicidal thoughts.