Extended Family and Friendship Support and Suicidality Among African Americans

Overview

Journal Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

Specialties Psychiatry
Public Health
Social Sciences

Date 2016 Nov 14

PMID 27838732

Citations 13

Authors

Ann W Nguyen

Robert Joseph Taylor

Linda M Chatters

Harry Owen Taylor

Karen D Lincoln

Uchechi A Mitchell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between informal social support from extended family and friends and suicidality among African Americans.

Methods: Logistic regression analysis was based on a nationally representative sample of African Americans from the National Survey of American Life (N = 3263). Subjective closeness and frequency of contact with extended family and friends and negative family interaction were examined in relation to lifetime suicide ideation and attempts.

Results: Subjective closeness to family and frequency of contact with friends were negatively associated with suicide ideation and attempts. Subjective closeness to friends and negative family interaction were positively associated with suicide ideation and attempts. Significant interactions between social support and negative interaction showed that social support buffers against the harmful effects of negative interaction on suicidality.

Conclusions: Findings are discussed in relation to the functions of positive and negative social ties in suicidality.

Citing Articles

Chronic stress exposure, social support, and sleep quality among African Americans: findings from the National Survey of American Life-Reinterview.

Nguyen A, Bubu O, Ding K, Lincoln K Ethn Health. 2024; 29(6):620-644.

PMID: 38932587 PMC: 11272438. DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2024.2367976.

Family as a Pathway to Suicidal Behaviors Through Depression Symptoms and Internalized Homophobia.

Boyd D, Sterrett-Hong E, Scott E, Allen J, Smith B, Quinn C J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2024; .

PMID: 38443741 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-01956-8.

James S. Jackson and the program for research on Black Americans: Contributions to psychology and the social sciences.

Chatters L, Taylor R, Neighbors H, Bowman P, Williams D, Mezuk B Am Psychol. 2023; 78(4):413-427.

PMID: 37384497 PMC: 10313130. DOI: 10.1037/amp0001067.

Living Alone and Suicide Risk in the United States, 2008‒2019.

Olfson M, Cosgrove C, Altekruse S, Wall M, Blanco C Am J Public Health. 2022; 112(12):1774-1782.

PMID: 36383944 PMC: 9670225. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2022.307080.

"What Doesn't Kill You, Makes You Stronger": Psychosocial Resources and the Mental Health of Black Older Adults.

Mitchell U, Nguyen A, McBryde-Redzovic A, Brown L Annu Rev Gerontol Geriatr. 2022; 41(1):269-302.

PMID: 36311274 PMC: 9614571.

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