title: Do sociocultural factors predict suicidality among persons of African descent living in the U.S.?
abstract: Given that researchers have found increased risk for suicidality and other psychiatric problems among acculturated individuals, we predicted similar results for African-descended people living in the U.S. We surveyed a community sample of 423 adult men and women of African descent to determine acculturation's relationship to Black suicide. Participants completed the African American Acculturation Scale, the Multi-Dimensional Support Scale, and a subscale of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Suicidal ideation and history of suicide attempt were defined as a "yes" response to the questions, "have you ever considered taking your own life?" and "have you ever attempted to take your own life?" We found that religious well-being (not acculturation) was predictive of both suicidal ideation and history of suicide attempt.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. rlwalker@sc.edu
authors: Rheeda L
authors: RL
authors: Walker
authors: Shawn O
authors: SO
authors: Utsey
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Bolden
authors: Otis
authors: O
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001741:Black or African American