Familial and social support as protective factors in African Americans at risk for suicide.
Item
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Title
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Familial and social support as protective factors in African Americans at risk for suicide.
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Identifier
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AAI3127888
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identifier
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3127888
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Creator
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Kyle, Jennifer A.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Peter Fraenkel
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Date
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2004
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Clinical | Black Studies
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Abstract
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African Americans, who, despite suffering a multitude of life stressors associated with racism and discrimination, have historically had a lower rate of suicide. However, the recent increase in the rate of suicide among African Americans has yet to be explained. By examining suicide among young African American adults, a group experiencing the highest rate of suicide, this study seeks to highlight an under examined area in the research: the presence or absence of protective factors among African Americans that might decrease their risk of suicide. Family and the church have traditionally been protective factors for African Americans, regulating and modulating intense affective responses to adversity, thereby promoting a sense of wellbeing. This study hypothesizes that the recent rise in the rate of suicide may be attributable to the erosion of protective factors for African Americans. Ultimately, the erosion of these protective factors in the face of unchanging life stressors will place African Americans at increased risk for suicide. Participants (N = 60) were recruited from an introductory psychology class at a medium sized urban university. Subjects' age ranged from eighteen to thirty-four (M = 22.45, SD = 4.8). A comprehensive battery of self-report instruments was chosen to assess the following variables: suicidality, family, social support and protective factors. Scales include the Harkavy Asnis Suicide Scale (HASS), College Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (RFL-CS), Family Assessment Measure III (FAM-III), Young Adult Social Support Inventory (YA-SSI). Results: FAM-III Involvement (OR, 0.469; p < .05) and Spiritual Faith (OR, 0.34, p < .05) are significantly related to, and predictive of lifetime suicidal ideation. Moral Objection subscale (OR, 4.19; p < .05) is significantly related to, and predictive of suicide attempts. Similarly, Responsibility to Family and Friends subscale (OR, 8.06; p < .05) is predictive of current suicidal ideation. The addition of known cultural strengths to the assessment of protective factors is a worthy endeavor as it adds to the veracity of protective factors. Further the study of the impact of cultural characteristics on protective factors can improve the assessment of risk in African-American youth and serve as stepping stone to the development of prevention program for youth.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
