Risk Factors for Suicide Attempts Among African American Women Experiencing Recent Intimate Partner Violence

• NCJ Number: 195894
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 283-295
• Author(s): Martie P. Thompson; Nadine J. Kaslow; J. B. Kingree
• Editor(s): Roland D. Maiuro Ph.D.
• Date Published: June 2002
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the association between selected risk factors and suicidal behavior among abused African American women and potential interventions to reduce the risk of suicidal behavior among these abused women.

Abstract

In an attempt to reduce mortality due to suicide, this study identified risk factors for suicide attempts among 200 African American abused women. In addition, it tested a cumulative risk model to determine if a woman’s likelihood of making a suicide attempt increased as the number of risk factors increased. This study examined five risk factors in relation to suicide attempts among abused African American women. Results indicated several risk factors differentiated women who had made suicide attempts from women who had never attempted suicide. Those women who had attempted suicide were significantly more likely to report high levels of depressive symptomatology, hopelessness, and drug use and more likely to have a history of childhood abuse or neglect. The results were consistent with findings from prior research showing that childhood trauma, depression, hopelessness, and drug use were risk factors for suicidal behavior. The findings suggest certain risk factors that should be screened when assessing for risk of suicidal behavior and that attention should be paid toward the number of risk factors experienced. Intervention efforts should target reducing those risk factors associated with increasing abused women’s propensity to engage in suicidal behavior. Tables and references