A Replication Study — Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adolescents are critical public health concerns in the United States, with suicide being the third leading cause of death among high school-aged youths (14-18 years). This study replicates and extends the findings of the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) conducted by Gaylor et al., which analyzed data from 13,677 students in 2019 and 17,232 students in 2021. The original study revealed alarming increases in suicidal ideation and behaviors, particularly among female students, and highlighted disparities across demographic groups. Using raw YRBS datasets, this replication involved a pure replication of the original findings, followed by Measurement and Estimation Analysis (MEA) and Theory of Change Analysis (TCA) to explore the interplay between bullying, sexual orientation, and suicidal behaviors. The results from the pure replication were consistent with the original findings, confirming significant associations between demographic factors and suicidal ideation. The MEA revealed significant associations between race, sexual identity, and suicidal ideation, emphasizing the importance of demographic factors. The TCA highlighted bullying as an interacting effect with sexual minority status on suicidal behaviors. Notably, bullying emerged as strong predictors of suicidal thoughts and attempts, particularly among sexual minority students. This comprehensive analysis underscores the necessity of targeted interventions and suicide prevention strategies tailored to at-risk populations, particularly in school settings.