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Familism, Family Environment, and Suicide Attempts among Latina Youth
Author(s) -
Peña Juan B.,
Kuhlberg Jill A.,
Zayas Luis H.,
Baumann Ana A.,
Gulbas Lauren,
HausmannStabile Carolina,
Nolle Allyson P.
Publication year - 2011
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.2011.00032.x
Subject(s) - odds , cohesion (chemistry) , psychology , family environment scale , sociology , social psychology , developmental psychology , medicine , logistic regression , chemistry , organic chemistry
In this study, we examined the relationship between familism and family environment type as well as the relationship between family environment type and suicide attempts among Latina youth. Latina teen attempters ( n = 109) and nonattempters ( n = 107) were recruited from the New York City area. Latent class analysis revealed three family environment types: tight‐knit, intermediate‐knit, and loose‐knit. Tight‐knit families (high cohesion and low conflict) were significantly less likely to have teens who attempted suicide as compared with intermediate‐knit families or loose‐knit families. Moreover, familism increased the odds of being in a tight‐knit family versus a loose‐knit family and the odds of being in a tight‐knit family versus a intermediate‐knit. The results suggest that familism may protect against suicide behavior among Latinas via its influence on family environment.