Are Mexican American adolescents at greater risk of suicidal behaviors?
A reexamination of ethnicity as a risk factor for adolescent suicidal behavior, focusing on whether Mexican American youths are at increased risk, was undertaken. Data from a sample of 4,175 African, European, and Mexican Americans, aged 11-17, are presented. We examined lifetime attempts and past year attempts, thoughts, and plans. Odds ratios, adjusting for covariates, indicate no differences between European and Mexican Americans on past year thoughts, plans, or attempts or lifetime attempts. Although some studies have reported Mexican American youths are at increased risk, we did not find any differences. Possible explanations for disparate results across studies are discussed, in particular methods effects.
Roberts
Robert E
RE
Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, USA.
Roberts
Catherine Ramsay
CR
Xing
Yun
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data