Effects of a culturally informed intervention on abused, suicidal African American women.
This study examined (a) the relative efficacy of a culturally sensitive empowerment group intervention (Nia) aimed at increasing 3 protective factors-self-esteem, hopefulness, and effectiveness of obtaining resources-versus treatment as usual (TAU) for low-income, abused African American women who recently had attempted suicide and (b) the impact of participants' readiness to change with regard to their abusive relationship and suicidal behavior on their levels of each protective factor in the 2 conditions. The sample included 89 African American women who reported intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure and a recent suicide attempt. Multivariate general linear modeling revealed that those in Nia showed greater improvements in self-esteem, but not in hopefulness or effectiveness of obtaining resources. However, significant interactions emerged in which participants who were "less ready to change" (i.e., earlier in the stages of change process) their IPV situation and suicidal behavior endorsed greater levels of hopefulness and perceived effectiveness of obtaining resources, respectively, following Nia. Findings suggest that abused, suicidal African American women who are more reluctant initially to changing their abusive situation and suicidal behavior may benefit from even a brief, culturally informed intervention.
Department of Psychology, Queens College - City University of New York.
Farah
0000-0003-2518-5083
F
Taha
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University.
Huaiyu
H
Zhang
Atlanta VA Medical.
Kara
K
Snead
Department of Psychology, Georgia State University.
Ashley D
AD
Jones
Department of Psychology, Fielding Graduate University.
Brittane
B
Blackmon
Department of Psychology, Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University.
Rachel J
RJ
Bryant
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University.
Asher E
AE
Siegelman
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University.
Nadine J
NJ
Kaslow
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D065246:Culturally Competent Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention