Person factors associated with suicidal behavior among African American women and men

Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2004 Feb;10(1):5-22. doi: 10.1037/1099-9809.10.1.5.

Abstract

This study compared person risk factors among the following groups of low-income, African American adults in an urban, public hospital: (a) suicide attempters and nonattempters, (b) male and female attempters, and (c) all 4 groups (50 female attempters, 50 female nonattempters, 50 male attempters, and 50 male nonattempters). Participants completed psychological distress, aggression, substance use, cognitive processes, religiosity/spirituality, and ethnic identity measures. Compared with nonattempters, attempters reported more psychological distress, aggression, substance use, and maladaptive coping strategies; less religiosity/spirituality; and lower levels of ethnic identity. Male attempters endorsed more substance use than female attempters. No person risk factors differentiated among the 4 groups. Assessment of person risk factors and implementation of commensurate culturally competent interventions are recommended.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Depression / complications*
  • Depressive Disorder / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Concept*
  • Sex Factors
  • Spirituality
  • Stress, Psychological / complications*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology*
  • United States