What Role Does Race Play in Adolescent Suicidal Ideation?

ABSTRACT

Epidemiological data indicate that suicide rates have been decreasing among 15–19-year-olds in the United States; however, rates have been increasing among some minority groups. Research has identified numerous risk factors for adolescent suicide and suicide-related behaviors, but models testing these risk factors within different racial or ethnic groups are scarce. The current study tested a model of adolescent suicide ideation in a sample of 258 high school students, comparing the model fit across two racial groups. The model significantly fit the data for both groups indicating that the relationship between suicide exposure and current suicidal ideation is mediated by reasons for living and level of depressive symptoms. Ways in which the results improve our understanding of risk factors in diverse adolescents are discussed.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• race
• suicide ideation

Notes

Note. RFL-A = Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents; SIQ = Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire; RADS = Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale; Exposure = Exposure to completed suicide. SIQ scores are mean percentile scores, all others are total score means.

*p < .05; ***P < .001.

Note. RFL-A = Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents; SIQ = Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire; RADS = Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale; Exposure = Exposure to completed suicide.

¹This comparison is significant, p < .05, but only at the one-tail level. All other comparisons are non-significant.

Note. RFL-A = Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents; RADS = Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale.