title: Family Relationships and Latina Teen Suicide Attempts: Reciprocity, Asymmetry, and Detachment.
abstract: Using qualitative data collected from adolescent Latinas and their parents, this article describes ways in which family relationships are organized within low-income Latino families (n = 24) with and without a daughter who attempted suicide. Based on a family-level analysis approach, we present a framework that categorizes relationships as reciprocal, asymmetrical, or detached. Clear differences are identified: Families of non-attempters primarily cluster in reciprocal families, whereas families with an adolescent suicide attempter exhibit characteristics of asymmetrical or detached families. Our results highlight the need for detailed clinical attention to family communication patterns, especially in Latino families. Clinicians may reduce the likelihood of an attempt or repeated attempts by raising mutual, reciprocal exchanges of words and support between parents and daughter.
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth College and Center for Latino Family Research, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis.
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Gulbas
authors.affiliation: Center for Latino Family Research, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis.
authors.forename: Luis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zayas
authors.affiliation: South Side Day Nursery in St. Louis and Center for Latino Family Research, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis.
authors.forename: Allyson P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Nolle
authors.affiliation: Center for Latino Family Research, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hausmann-Stabile
authors.affiliation: Center for Latino Family Research, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis.
authors.forename: Jill A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kuhlberg
authors.affiliation: Center for Mental Health Services and Center for Latino Family Research, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis.
authors.forename: Ana A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.affiliation: Center for Latino Family Research, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis.
authors.forename: Juan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pena