Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences
Volume 54, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 39-49

Violating clan and kinship roles as risk factors for suicide and stigma among lao refugees: An application of the cultural model of suicide and “what matters most” frameworks (Article)

Mandavia A. , Huang D. , Wong J. , Ruiz B. , Crump F. , Shen J. , Martinez M. , Botcheva L. , Vega E. , Chu J. , Lewis S. , Yang L.H.*
  • a Department Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • b Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • c Department Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • d Department Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • e Department Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • f Department Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • g Mental Health Association of San FranciscoCA, United States
  • h Mental Health Association of San FranciscoCA, United States
  • i Mental Health Association of San FranciscoCA, United States
  • j Department of Psychology, Palo Alto UniversityCA, United States
  • k Department of Religion, Wellesley CollegeMA, United States
  • l Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York UniversityNY, United States

Abstract

Background: While Asian groups have immigrated worldwide, suicide risk models have neglected to integrate cultural components. This study incorporates how stigma associated with failure to uphold clan/kinship roles can increase suicide risk in highly-marginalized Lao-Americans. Methods: One focus group with five Lao participants and 21 individual semi-structured interviews with community family members were conducted. Transcripts were coded via directed content analysis using the “What Matters Most” and Cultural Theory of Suicide frameworks. Results: Violating role-expectations associated with youth, adults and older adults appears to be associated with risk for suicide. This suggests that the failure of adults to fulfill their roles might potentially threaten loss of “full personhood” and trigger stigma, thus potentially evoking greater suicide risk. Conclusion: Interventions would benefit from cultural considerations of fulfilling role-expectations and “personhood” to combat suicide and stigma within cultural communities. © 2017, Mediafarm Group. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

role playing refugee Laos human Refugees middle aged ethnology United States Young Adult Humans family psychology Adolescent male female risk factor Risk Factors Social Stigma adult Suicide Role
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85029221419&partnerID=40&md5=60b2cfe466de749c61ed8f07a953ce9f
ISSN: 03337308
Original Language: English