Introduction
According to previous studies, teenage girls who suffer from depression, have trouble forming healthy connections at home, and are female are more likely to engage in suicidal thoughts and activities. The specific elements that affect risk factors for youths from ethnic minorities have been the subject of very few studies. Researchers discovered that the degree to which an individual has integrated into American culture was a strong predictor of suicidal thoughts and actions among Latinx and Asian American teenagers. In situations when there are disagreements between different generations in the family, Asian American teenagers who have not been fully assimilated are more likely to engage in suicide behaviors. For Latina American kids, the opposite is true: more acculturation increases the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors while decreasing familial ties. Although historically, African American youth have had the lowest rates of suicide and suicidal behaviors, recent research has shown that this is not always the case. For example, statistics on suicidal behaviors have been erroneously combined with those for externalized violent or delinquent behaviors like assault, drug abuse, and risky sex, which puts African American youth living in vulnerable lower socioeconomic communities at a higher risk of suicide. Having little family support or a lot of family conflict is the biggest risk factor for all teen girls and boys, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status. According to the research, the strongest defense against sociality and related behaviors is a strong familial tie. To reduce the number of teen suicides, future studies should investigate the most effective ways to inform and assist the families of young people from ethnic minorities.
Keywords: suicide, acculturation, ethnic minority, adolescent’s culture
One of the leading killers of American youths between the ages of 10 and 24 is suicide. When it comes to teen suicide and suicidal ideation, are there any commonalities or distinctions across the many ethnic minority groups? According to certain writers, such as Lau, Jernewall, Zane, and Myers (2002) and O’Donnell, O’Donnell, Wardlaw, and Stueve (2004), there is insufficient evidence on how ethnicity affects suicidal behaviors. The impact of ethnic identification on teen suicide attempts has been the subject of three studies, each of which has taken a somewhat different tack. This paper’s goal is to survey the literature and investigate why suicide rates among youths of other ethnic minorities vary. In this literature study, we will look at adolescent suicide behavior among three other ethnic groups in the United States and compare and contrast it with one another.
The particular challenge of acculturation is experienced by immigrant adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds. One must undergo acculturation to integrate, adapt, and conform to the dominant culture of a new place. During the process of assimilation, members of ethnic minorities frequently encounter prejudice, loneliness, and crises of identity. Minorities whose cultures prioritize family unity and collectivism will find this particularly true. Asian and Latino cultures prioritize the needs of the family and group over those of the individual, in contrast to Western and American cultures that tend to prize independence and individualism. Intergenerational disputes arise in the household due to ethnic minority adolescents navigating these competing cultural norms; for example, older, more traditional family members may disapprove of their younger siblings’ embrace of Western ideas. The likelihood of suicidality and related behaviors among Asian American teenagers is thirty times higher in settings with high levels of family and intergenerational disputes, according to research by Lau, Jernewall, Zane, and Myers (2002). This confirms what other research has shown: that domestic issues and conflicts are major risk factors for suicidal thoughts and actions among young people. Also, while higher levels of family conflict were observed among more acculturated Asian American youths, a study by Lau et al. (2002) indicated that parent-child conflict had a far more negative impact on the mental health of less acculturated Asian American youths, putting them at a higher risk for engaging in suicidal behaviors. Less acculturated youngsters find family disputes more upsetting because they go against their traditional basic collectivist values, which place a high value on respecting elders and maintaining harmonious family relationships. Additionally, it could be that more acculturated Asian American adolescents have more peer support to help them deal with stress. In contrast, less acculturated Asian American teenagers rely on their families for social support (Lau et al., 2002).
Though both cultures traditionally emphasize comparable collectivist values, the degree of acculturation influences the risk of suicidality and suicidal behaviors differently in Asian American teenagers compared to Latina-American adolescents. De Luca, Wyman, and Warren (2012) discovered that a Latina’s likelihood of engaging in suicidal thoughts and acts increases with her level of acculturation. “A Latina’s risk of negative mental health outcomes, such as suicidal ideation and attempts, increases as she acculturates. Cultural protections, such as strong familial ties, spirituality, and collectivism, tend to weaken” (De Luca et al., 2012, p. 673). It is significant to highlight that this study concentrated on female Latina American juveniles since, in comparison to other ethnic minorities, Latina adolescents have the highest reported incidences of suicidal ideation and attempts, according to previous studies and statistics from the Centers for Disease Control. De Luca et al. (2012) found that Latinas who felt their fathers and teachers supported them had the best defense against suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Furthermore, it was discovered that Latina youth, in line with previous studies, are more vulnerable to suicide ideation when they have a buddy who expresses or engages in suicidal behaviors. Adolescent Latinas who experience parent and family conflicts are more likely to exhibit suicidal thoughts and behaviors, just as Asian American teenagers. Though less acculturated Latina adolescents have greater safety nets and protections within their family system, more acculturated Latina youth have a higher risk of suicide than Asian American youth. Remember that family conflict, or the absence of perceived support from parent figures—father figures in particular for Latina youth—is one of the most important risk factors for both Asian American and Latina adolescents, irrespective of acculturation levels (De Luca et al., 2012).
When compared to other ethnic minorities, African American teens have traditionally been shown to have the lowest rates of suicide and suicidal ideation. Previous research has indicated that African American teens’ strong awareness of their ethnic identity and, to a lesser extent, their religious beliefs contribute to their greater resilience to suicidality. Being proud of one’s ethnic heritage reduces the likelihood of developing depression and promotes higher self-esteem, less stress, and isolation. Strong ethnic identity also contributes to increased awareness of racism and its effects, which further shields the individual from self-blaming actions when things go wrong. Strong religious convictions may also protect African American communities since they condemn suicide as a bad act, which encourages attitudes that discourage suicidality and foster optimism in its place.
However, according to a study by O’Donnell, O’Donnell, Wardlaw, & Stueve (2004), inner-city African-American kids who reside in impoverished and lower socioeconomic communities are actually at a higher risk of suicide and suicidal tendencies. Adolescents living in impoverished urban environments are more likely to engage in deviant activities linked to externalizations of suicidality, including drug misuse, unguarded sexual encounters, violent exposure, and assault. According to O’Donnell et al. (2004), “prevention research has devoted more attention to the study of outwardly aggressive delinquent behavior than the inwardly directed violence of suicide” (p. 39) because of the widespread perception that African American populations are more robust to suicidality. As a result, the risks of suicidality for African American kids in vulnerable neighborhoods are currently the subject of very little research. The connection between externalized violent behaviors and their impact on suicidality in vulnerable populations requires more investigation. Recruiting sufficient numbers of African American youth from inner cities to participate in these studies presents extra hurdles for researchers. O’Donnell et al. performed a statistical analysis of the 1994 longitudinal Reach for Health Study, which included a sizable sample of young ethnic minority people in New York City between the seventh and eleventh grades.
O’Donnell et al. (2004) analyzed survey results from this research. They concluded that, among youths from economically disadvantaged homes, the lack of unfulfilled needs and familial proximity are the most significant indicators of suicidality. Making loved ones feel cared for and supported is one of the most effective approaches to reducing the risk of suicide ideation and behavior. Previous research had projected that religious and ethnic identity would protect these inner-city African American youngsters from suicidal thoughts and behaviors, but this was not the case.
Summary
The family is the most crucial factor in deciding whether the teen is suicidal, according to De Luca et al. (2012), Lau et al. (2002), and O’Donnell et al. (2004). This holds regardless of the youngster’s race. When there is strife at home, it can hurt adolescents’ mental health. The transition from collectivism to individualism among young people of Asian American and Latino descent is especially difficult.
Further, a lack of knowledge and resources, together with the widespread misconception that mental illness is not a “real” issue in minority cultures, might deter young people from ethnic minorities from getting help when they need it. To reduce the likelihood of suicide among children, future research should center on family interventions that educate parents on how to satisfy their children’s needs effectively.
References
De Luca, S. M., Wyman, P., & Warren, K. (2012). Latina adolescent suicide ideations and attempts: Associations with connectedness to parents, peers, and teachers. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior, 42(6), 672–683.
Lau, A. S., Jernewall, N. M., Zane, N., & Myers, H. F. (2002). Correlates of suicidal behaviors among Asian American outpatient youths. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 8(3), 199.
O’donnell, L., O’donnell, C., Wardlaw, D. M., & Stueve, A. (2004). Risk and resiliency factors influencing suicidality among urban African American and Latino youth. American Journal of Community Psychology, 33(1-2), pp. 37–49.
write