Phenomenology of Latina adolescents' suicide attempts

Objectives: Adolescent Latinas attempt suicide more often than other youth. Not studied are the circumstance and phenomenology of the attempts. To understand the phenomenon, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with teenage Latinas suicide attempters. Method: As part of a larger study, qualitative interviews were conducted with 30 Latina adolescents between the ages 12 to 19 years of age and mostly U. S. born (62%) who had attempted suicide in the previous 6-months. Interviews focused on precipitants, reported intent, and means of attempts as well as girls' thoughts, feeling, and physical sensations before, during and after the attempts. We analyzed the audio-recorded interviews using a constant comparison method and thematic coding rooted in grounded theory. Results: More than half (57%) reported a history of previous attempts. Most attempted through cutting and overdosing with over-the-counter medications. Precipitating events included familial conflicts, mostly with mothers, problems at school (e.g., bad grades, cutting school), and romantic break-ups. Girls described stressed family environments where conflicts between them and their parents rarely got resolved. Attempts were characterized as impulsive acts with little premeditation and intent of dying. Attempts were a way of “taking the pain away” and coping with escalating anger and frustration. Conclusion: Our in-depth portrayal of the lived experiences of the suicide attempts of adolescent Latinas points to the importance of familial and social relations as precipitants and of an apparent dissociative process during the attempts. Future research directions and development of culturally-grounded interventions to decrease suicidal behaviors among Latina teens are discussed.