title: Mediators of a culturally-sensitive intervention for suicidal African American women.
abstract: This study explored intervention outcomes and mechanisms that could help explain why low-income, African American women with a history of intimate partner abuse and suicide attempt improve in response to a culturally-informed intervention, the Grady Nia Project. Specifically, the investigation examined whether or not the intervention had effects on the women and whether or not spiritual well-being and coping mediated the effects of the intervention on suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, data from 89 women who completed both pre- and post-intervention assessments were analyzed. During the post-intervention follow-up, women in the active intervention group reported lower levels of suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms and higher levels of existential well-being and adaptive coping skills than those women randomized to the treatment as usual group. However, only existential well-being was found to mediate treatment effects on suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. Religious well-being, as well as adaptive and maladaptive coping, did not serve a mediational function. These findings highlight the importance of designing and implementing culturally-sensitive and evidence-based strategies that enhance existential well-being in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Grady Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
authors.forename: Huaiyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kiranmayi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neelarambam
authors.forename: Tomina J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Schwenke
authors.forename: Miesha N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Delishia M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pittman
authors.forename: Nadine J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kaslow
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000092864:Suicide Prevention