119. Team Sports Pride: How Sexual Orientation Modifies Team Sports Participation as a Protective Factor Against Suicidal Behaviors and Sadness in Adolescents

Suicide is one of the leading causes death among US adolescents. Identifying as a sexual minority risk factor for suicide due to higher rates depression seen in this population. Participating team sports protects against being involved physical activity and social interaction. However, youths face discrimination, victimization, harassment multiple environments, including locker room or team. Determining how identifying could modify effect participating sport on decreasing feelings suicidal behaviors would help raise awareness advocate youth athletes. We used data from 2019 YRBS database, which randomly surveyed representative sample 9th - 12th grade students US. The survey was administered public private schools all 50 states D.C. Our study design cross-sectional who completed specific school-based questions. exposure interest sports, outcomes were reporting sadness/hopelessness having (considered, planned, attempted suicide). (gay lesbian, bisexual, not sure) potential modifier interest. four step analysis: 1) descriptive analysis baseline characteristics sample, 2) bivariate analyses determine association between exposure, outcomes, 3) multivariate regression using logistic assess considering possible confounding variables, 4) stratified impact included 8,349 students. Most them female (50.3%) White Hispanic (52.7% 27.7%, respectively); 58.4% 15.6% reported minority, respectively. frequencies feeling sadness behavior 38.7% 24.99%, participation significantly different those identified heterosexual (aOR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.52 – 0.70) compared 0.90, 0.65 1.25; p-value interaction 0.03). In contrast, 0.72, 0.57 0.90) 0.78, 95%CI: 0.53 1.12; (p = 0.652). found that orientation adolescents modified sadness, but behaviors. Further research should be conducted explore what reasons are associated with effectiveness protective identify so these issues can addressed.