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Background <p>In China, gay and bisexual men exhibit higher levels of suicidal ideation than their heterosexual counterparts do. The influence of the father–son relationship on mental health within this group remains understudied. This study aims to explore the interplay between the father‒son relationship and suicidal ideation and examine the potential mediating roles of masculinity and self-esteem in this relationship among young Chinese gay and bisexual men.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a survey involving 302 cisgender gay and bisexual young men (mean age = 23.99, SD = 3.68) and 250 cisgender heterosexual young men (mean age = 23.89, SD = 3.98). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the relationships between father–son dynamics, masculinity, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation.</p> Results <p>Compared with their heterosexual counterparts, Chinese gay and bisexual men reported higher levels of suicidal ideation and lower levels of father–son relationship quality and masculinity. Notably, mediation analysis revealed that masculinity and self-esteem sequentially mediated the relationship between the father-son relationship and suicidal ideation (total effect <i>β</i> = -0.026; direct effect <i>β</i> = 0.007, <i>p</i> &gt; .05; total indirect effect <i>β</i> = -0.034, <i>p</i> &lt; .01). This mediation model was not significant among the heterosexual male sample.</p> Conclusions <p>This study highlights the critical role of the father-son relationship in the mental health of young Chinese gay and bisexual men. Our findings illuminate a pathway wherein poorer father-son relationships are linked to lower levels of both masculinity and self-esteem, which in turn are associated with greater suicidal ideation. These findings advance the understanding of psychological development in this population. They also underscore the potential importance of interventions that support positive father-son relationships, masculinity, and self-esteem as a means to address mental health disparities among young Chinese gay and bisexual men.</p>

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The impact of father–son relationship on suicidal ideation in Chinese gay and bisexual men: the mediating role of masculinity and self-esteem

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月29日

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  • Yiting Huang,
  • Junhao Liang,
  • Gang Huang,
  • Jiarui Liu,
  • Dejia Zhu,
  • Jiayu Liu,
  • Jingchu Hu

摘要

Background

In China, gay and bisexual men exhibit higher levels of suicidal ideation than their heterosexual counterparts do. The influence of the father–son relationship on mental health within this group remains understudied. This study aims to explore the interplay between the father‒son relationship and suicidal ideation and examine the potential mediating roles of masculinity and self-esteem in this relationship among young Chinese gay and bisexual men.

Methods

We conducted a survey involving 302 cisgender gay and bisexual young men (mean age = 23.99, SD = 3.68) and 250 cisgender heterosexual young men (mean age = 23.89, SD = 3.98). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the relationships between father–son dynamics, masculinity, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation.

Results

Compared with their heterosexual counterparts, Chinese gay and bisexual men reported higher levels of suicidal ideation and lower levels of father–son relationship quality and masculinity. Notably, mediation analysis revealed that masculinity and self-esteem sequentially mediated the relationship between the father-son relationship and suicidal ideation (total effect β = -0.026; direct effect β = 0.007, p > .05; total indirect effect β = -0.034, p < .01). This mediation model was not significant among the heterosexual male sample.

Conclusions

This study highlights the critical role of the father-son relationship in the mental health of young Chinese gay and bisexual men. Our findings illuminate a pathway wherein poorer father-son relationships are linked to lower levels of both masculinity and self-esteem, which in turn are associated with greater suicidal ideation. These findings advance the understanding of psychological development in this population. They also underscore the potential importance of interventions that support positive father-son relationships, masculinity, and self-esteem as a means to address mental health disparities among young Chinese gay and bisexual men.