Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #149615

Danice K. Eaton, PhD¹, Laura Kann, PhD¹, Alexander Crosby, MD, MPH², and Glenn Flores, MD³. (1) Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Mailstop K-33, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-6143, dhe0@cdc.gov, (2) NCIPC, DVP, CDC, 2939 Flowers Road South, Mailstop K-60, Koger Center, Vanderbilt Building, Atlanta, GA 30341, (3) Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226

Suicidal behavior is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among adolescents. The prevalence of suicidal ideation and behavior (SIB) varies by race/ethnicity, particularly among females. Of particular concern is the disproportionately high prevalence of SIB among Hispanic females. The reasons for this disparity are not well-understood. The purpose of this study was to examine whether associations of SIB with health risk behaviors vary by race/ethnicity among female students. Results are based on data from the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a cross-sectional survey of health risk behaviors among a representative sample of U.S. students in grades 9-12. Measures of SIB included seriously considering suicide and attempting suicide. Other health risk behaviors included behaviors related to unintentional injury and violence; substance use; sexual behaviors; physical activity; and dietary behaviors. All analyses were conducted among female students (n=6,858) using weighted data. The prevalence of suicide ideation was significantly higher among Hispanic (24.2%) and non-Hispanic (NH) white (21.5%) than NH black (17.1%) female students. The prevalence of suicide attempts was higher among Hispanic (14.9%) than NH white (9.3%) and NH black (9.8%) female students. Statistically significant racial/ethnic differences in associations of suicide ideation and suicide attempts with health risk behaviors were observed for only 2 of 20 behaviors examined (physical fighting and marijuana use). These findings suggest that racial/ethnic disparities in SIB cannot be understood solely based on their association with other health risk behaviors. Other factors, such as family characteristics, acculturation, and the socio-cultural environment, should be examined in future research.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the prevalence of suicidal behaviors among U.S. high school students and how behavior prevalence varies by race/ethnicity.
• Describe the association of health risk behaviors and suicidal behaviors and how the association varies by race/ethnicity.
• Recognize the need for future research to understand racial/ethnic disparities in suicidal behaviors.

Keywords: Suicide, Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.