Given the association between life stress and vulnerability to negative cognitive styles, it is probable that the chronic nature of the stressors that sexual minorities confront engenders feelings of hopelessness. Indeed, the knowledge that prejudice and discrimination events are likely to continue to occur can, over time, convince individuals that there is nothing they can do to change their situation, which can lead to the development of depression. In within-group studies of sexual minorities, hopelessness is a significant predictor of suicidal behavior and ideation (van Heeringen & Vincke, 2000; Walls et al., 2008). Between-group comparisons indicate higher levels of hopelessness among LGB individuals compared to heterosexuals (Plöderl & Fartacek, 2005; Safren & Heimberg, 1999). When hopelessness is entered along with other general psychological processes in regression models, it has been shown to attenuate the association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms (Safren & Heimberg, 1999) as well as suicidality (Plöderl & Fartacek, 2005). In a nationally representative study of adolescents, there was a partial reduction in the relationship between same-sex attraction and suicidality when general psychological processes (including hopelessness) were
