Means, Intent, Lethality, Behaviors, and Psychiatric Diagnosis in Latina Adolescent Suicide Attempters

This article describes the means, intent, lethality, behavioral profiles, and psychiatric diagnoses of adolescent Latina suicide attempters. From a large, mixed-method project studying the sociocultural processes of Latina suicide attempts, we selected 76 participants for this report. In addition to quantitative research data, medical records were available for all 76 participants, as was qualitative data from in-depth interviews for 34 of them. Using the qualitative and quantitative research data, we explored intent and behavioral profiles of the suicidal adolescents. Medical records provided additional information about the means the adolescents used in their attempts, and about their psychiatric diagnoses. The lethality of suicide attempts was coded using the Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale (LSARS) and the Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale—Updated (LSARS-II). Findings showed that Latina adolescent suicide attempts are low in lethality. Consistent with the literature, most adolescents reported that they attempted by using means available in their homes (cutting and overdosing with medications were the predominant methods). Interesting discrepancies emerged when comparing adolescents’ self-reported behavioral profiles with clinicians’ psychiatric diagnoses. This report has implications for diagnosis and treatment approaches for both inpatient and outpatient service providers

Familism and family environment among suicidal Latinas: Three family types

This study 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 non-attempters (n=107) were recruited from the NYC 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 that attempted suicide as compared to intermediate-knit families or loose-knit families. Moreover, familism increased the odds of being in the tight-knit family vs. the loose-knit family and the odds of being in the tight-knit family vs. the intermediate-knit. Results suggest that familism may protect against suicide behavior among Latinas via its influence on family environment

Familism and family environment among suicidal Latinas: Three family types

This study 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 non-attempters (n=107) were recruited from the NYC 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 that attempted suicide as compared to intermediate-knit families or loose-knit families. Moreover, familism increased the odds of being in the tight-knit family vs. the loose-knit family and the odds of being in the tight-knit family vs. the intermediate-knit. Results suggest that familism may protect against suicide behavior among Latinas via its influence on family environment

Family relationships and Latina teen suicide attempts: Reciprocity, asymmetry, and detachment

Using qualitative data collected from adolescent Latinas and their parents, this article describes ways in which family relationships are organized within low-income Latino families (n = 24) with and without a daughter who attempted suicide. Based on a family-level analysis approach, we present a framework that categorizes relationships as reciprocal, asymmetrical, or detached. Clear differences are identified: Families of nonattempters primarily cluster in reciprocal families, whereas families with an adolescent suicide attempter exhibit characteristics of asymmetrical or detached families. Our results highlight the need for detailed clinical attention to family communication patterns, especially in Latino families. Clinicians may reduce the likelihood of an attempt or repeated attempts by raising mutual, reciprocal exchanges of words and support between parents and daughter

Family relationships and Latina teen suicide attempts: Reciprocity, asymmetry, and detachment

Using qualitative data collected from adolescent Latinas and their parents, this article describes ways in which family relationships are organized within low-income Latino families (n = 24) with and without a daughter who attempted suicide. Based on a family-level analysis approach, we present a framework that categorizes relationships as reciprocal, asymmetrical, or detached. Clear differences are identified: Families of nonattempters primarily cluster in reciprocal families, whereas families with an adolescent suicide attempter exhibit characteristics of asymmetrical or detached families. Our results highlight the need for detailed clinical attention to family communication patterns, especially in Latino families. Clinicians may reduce the likelihood of an attempt or repeated attempts by raising mutual, reciprocal exchanges of words and support between parents and daughter

Means, intent, lethality, behaviors, and psychiatric diagnosis in Latina adolescent suicide attempters.

This article describes the means, intent, lethality, behavioral profiles, and psychiatric diagnoses of adolescent Latina suicide attempters. From a large, mixed-method project studying the sociocultural processes of Latina suicide attempts, we selected 76 participants for this report. In addition to quantitative research data, medical records were available for all 76 participants, as was qualitative data from in-depth interviews for 34 of them. Using the qualitative and quantitative research data, we explored intent and behavioral profiles of the suicidal adolescents. Medical records provided additional information about the means the adolescents used in their attempts, and about their psychiatric diagnoses. The lethality of suicide attempts was coded using the Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale (LSARS) and the Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale—Updated (LSARS-II). Findings showed that Latina adolescent suicide attempts are low in lethality. Consistent with the literature, most adolescents reported that they attempted by using means available in their homes (cutting and overdosing with medications were the predominant methods). Interesting discrepancies emerged when comparing adolescents’ self-reported behavioral profiles with clinicians’ psychiatric diagnoses. This report has implications for diagnosis and treatment approaches for both inpatient and outpatient service providers