Open AccessSuicidality and Depression Among African American Adolescents: The Role of Family and Peer Support and Community Connectedness
Author(s) -
Matlin Samantha L.,
Molock Sherry Davis,
Tebes Jacob Kraemer
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
american journal of orthopsychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.959
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1939-0025
pISSN - 0002-9432
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-0025.2010.01078.x
Subject(s) - social connectedness , social support , peer support , psychology , family support , suicide prevention , clinical psychology , psychological intervention , depression (economics) , multilevel model , poison control , mental health , psychiatry , medicine , social psychology , environmental health , machine learning , computer science , economics , macroeconomics , physical therapy
Rates of suicide are increasing among African American adolescents and pose a significant public health concern. One area that has received little attention is the relationship between various types of social support and suicide, and the extent to which support moderates the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidality. A total of 212 African American adolescents completed in‐school surveys on three types of social support: family support, peer support, and community connectedness. The survey also addressed depressive symptoms and suicidality, as measured by reasons for living, a cognitive measure of suicide risk. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to examine direct and moderating relationships between types of social support and suicidality. The results indicated that increased family support and peer support are associated with decreased suicidality, and peer support and community connectedness moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidality. Over a third of the variability in reasons for living was predicted by family support, peer support, and community connectedness. Implications for research and preventative interventions for African American adolescents are discussed.