Reasons for Living, Social Support, and Afrocentric Worldview: Assessing Buffering Factors Related to Black Americans’ Suicidal Behavior

Abstract

This study utilized an ecological framework to explore the role of 4 culturally relevant protective factors—reasons for living, Afrocentric worldview, family support, and friend support—in protecting Black American college students from suicidal behavior. Participants were 289 Black American college students. We hypothesized that these 4 culturally relevant factors would exert indirect protective effects on suicidal behavior through their association with reduced depressive symptoms. Results indicated that reasons for living, perceived supportive behaviors from family, and Afrocentric worldview exerted indirect protective effects on suicidal behaviors through their negative associations with depressive symptoms. The mediation effect from friend support to depression and suicidal behavior was not significant.

Keywords:

• Afrocentric worldview
• Black Americans
• reasons for living
• social support
• suicide

Acknowledgments

Support for this research was provided by grant P20 MD001089-01 from the National Institution of Health, NCMHD, and Department of Health and Human Services.

Notes

Note. *p < .05; **p < .01. Gender: 0 = male; 1 = female.

Note. SBQR = Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-Revised; CESD = Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, RFL_YA = Reasons for Living Inventory for Young Adults; SSBFM = Social Support Behaviors Scale: Family; SSBFR = Social Support Behaviors Scale: Friends; BSAS = Belief Systems Analysis Scale (Afrocentric worldview).