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Prevalence of Suicide Attempts in a Mexican‐American Population: Prevention Implications of Immigration and Cultural Issues
Author(s) -
Sorenson Susan B.,
Golding Jacqueline M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1988.tb00170.x
Subject(s) - acculturation , immigration , mexican americans , demography , suicidal ideation , suicide prevention , population , foreign born , medicine , poison control , injury prevention , gerontology , ethnic group , geography , political science , sociology , environmental health , archaeology , law
Self‐reported suicide ideation and suicide attempts were examined among 2,393 Mexican‐Americans (706 born in Mexico, 538 born in the United States) and non‐Hispanic whites (1,149 born in the United States). Mexican‐Americans born in Mexico reported significantly lower age‐ and gender‐adjusted lifetime rates of suicide thoughts (4.5%, 2.7–6.3%) than Mexican‐Americans born in the United States (13.0%, 10.0–15.9%), who reported significantly lower rates than non‐Hispanic whites born in the United States (19.2%, 17.4–21.0%). Adjusted rates of suicide attempt were lowest among Mexican‐Americans born in Mexico (1.6%, 0.6–2.6%) and higher among both Mexican‐Americans (4.8%, 2.4–7.2%) and non‐Hispanic whites (4.4%, 3.4–5.4%) born in the United States. Rates were not affected by degree of acculturation when immigration status was controlled. High schools and the Catholic church are suggested as sites for programs designed to prevent suicide and suicide attempts among Mexican‐Americans.