How social connections can help prevent suicide thoughts in young women who love women
Official title: Social connections preventing suicide ideation during developmental transitions among young sexual minority women
Funded at University of Central Florida · NIH-10850599 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why young women who love other women might think about suicide more than their straight friends, and it wants to find out how having strong friendships and a positive sense of self can help keep them safe, especially during big life changes like starting high school or college.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Central Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orlando, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $308,537 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD015896-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10850599 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young lesbian, bisexual, and other women who love women, particularly those experiencing significant life transitions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not identify as part of the sexual minority community or who are not in the specified age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the higher rates of suicide ideation among young lesbian, bisexual, and other women who love women (YLBWLW) compared to their heterosexual peers. It focuses on understanding how social connections and individual identity factors can protect against these risks, especially during critical developmental transitions like starting high school or college. By examining the relationships between social support and suicide risk, the study aims to identify protective factors that can help reduce suicidal thoughts in this population. Participants will be involved in interviews and assessments over time to track changes in their social connections and mental health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions that strengthen social support networks for young women who love women, ultimately reducing their risk of suicide ideation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that social support can be a protective factor against suicide ideation in various populations, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Central Florida
Orlando, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Taliaferro, Lindsay a — University of Central Florida
- Study coordinator: Taliaferro, Lindsay a
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.