Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Volume 75, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 399-407

Relationship between acculturation, discrimination, and suicidal ideation and attempts among us hispanics in the national epidemiologic survey of alcohol and related conditions (Article)

Perez-Rodriguez M.M.* , Baca-Garcia E. , Oquendo M.A. , Wang S. , Wall M.M. , Liu S.-M. , Blanco C.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine Psychiatry, Box #1230, 1 Gustave L. Levy P1, New York, NY 10029, United States, Mental Health Patient Care Center, Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States, CIBERSAM, Department of Psychiatry, Autonoma University, Madrid, Spain
  • b CIBERSAM, Department of Psychiatry, Autonoma University, Madrid, Spain, Department of Psychiatry, College of Phys. and Surg., Columbia University, United States, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • c Department of Psychiatry, College of Phys. and Surg., Columbia University, United States, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • d Department of Psychiatry, College of Phys. and Surg., Columbia University, United States, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • e Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • f Department of Psychiatry, College of Phys. and Surg., Columbia University, United States, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • g CIBERSAM, Department of Psychiatry, Autonoma University, Madrid, Spain, Department of Psychiatry, College of Phys. and Surg., Columbia University, United States, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Objective: Acculturation is the process by which immigrants acquire the culture of the dominant society. Little is known about the relationship between acculturation and suicidal ideation and attempts among US Hispanics. Our aim was to examine the impact of 5 acculturation measures (age at migration, time in the United States, social network composition, language, race/ethnic orientation) on suicidal ideation and attempts in the largest available nationally representative sample of US Hispanics. Method: Study participants were US Hispanics (N 6,359) from Wave 2 of the 2004 2005 National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (N 34,653). We used linear x2 tests and logistic regression models to analyze the association between acculturation and risk of suicidal ideation and attempts. Results: Factors associated with a linear increase in lifetime risk for suicidal ideation and attempts were (1) younger age at migration (linear X2i 57.15; P <.0001), (2) longer time in the United States (linear X2i 36.09; P <.0001), (3) higher degree of English- language orientation (linear X2i 74.08; P <.0001), (4) lower Hispanic composition of social network (linear X2i 36.34;P<.0001),and (5) lower Hispanic racial/ethnic identification (linear X2i 47.77; P <.0001). Higher levels of perceived discrimination were associated with higher lifetime riskfor suicidal ideation (13 0.051;P<.001) and attempts (13 0.020; P .003). Conclusions:There was a linear association between multiple dimensions of acculturation and lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts. Discrimination was also associated with lifetime risk for suicidal ideation and attempts. Our results highlight protective aspects of the traditional Hispanic culture, such as high social support, coping strategies, and moral objections to suicide, which are modifiable factors and potential targets for public health interventions aimed at decreasing suicide risk. Culturally sensitive mental health resources need to be made more available to decrease discrimination and stigma. © 2014 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

human middle aged suicide attempt priority journal social network Aged Suicide, Attempted Logistic Models Health Surveys social support communication skill Hispanic Americans United States Young Adult Humans racism Hispanic male Chi-Square Distribution Acculturation female risk factor cultural factor Article adult age Age Factors social discrimination population migration suicidal ideation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84899708962&doi=10.4088%2fJCP.13m08548&partnerID=40&md5=7a192ed61a8a71b7faff490aa0757594
DOI: 10.4088/JCP.13m08548
ISSN: 01606689
Cited by: 29
Original Language: English