An exploratory study of nonsuicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviors in adolescent Latinas.

Abstract

To date, there is little research to validate empirically differences between nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI) and attempted suicide among Latina adolescents. Understanding the characteristics and contextual features of self-harmful behaviors among Latina teens is a critical public health and social justice matter given the disproportionate rates of attempted suicide and anticipated population growth of this vulnerable group. In this article, we draw on an ecodevelopmental model to focus attention on factors in the sociocultural environment that shape suicidal behaviors and NSSIs. Through analysis of qualitative interviews conducted with girls who used NSSI (n ϭ 18), attempted suicide (n ϭ 29), used NSSI and attempted suicide (n ϭ 8,) and had no reported lifetime history of self-harm (n ϭ 28), we describe the sociocultural factors that shaped psychosocial vulnerabilities and gave rise to decisions to use NSSI or attempt suicide. Our analysis revealed that adolescents who engaged in NSSI perceived their negative feelings as something that could be controlled through self-injurious acts, whereas powerlessness was a theme underlying the emotional states of girls who attempted suicide. When NSSI ceased to function as a mechanism for control, girls came to sudden decisions to attempt suicide. Most teens identified specific, and often multiple, situations that induced intense affective states and shaped decisions to inflict self-harm. Two situational experiences emerged as particularly salient and promising for subsequent studies on self-harmful behaviors among Latina adolescents: transnational stress and bullying. We describe each of these and offer suggestions for future research and practice.

Life Is Precious: Views of Adolescents and Their Mothers on Methods to Reduce Suicidal Behavior in Latinas

“…These themes include negative feelings, including low self-esteem (Goldston et al, 2008); conflicts between parents and adolescents stemming from issues of acculturation, immigration, and gender roles (Zayas et al, 2010; Zayas & Pilat, 2008; Gulbas & Zayas, 2015; Gulbas et al, 2015); struggles in school (Piña-Watson et al, 2014); and struggles with peer relationships (Goldston et al, 2008), including bullying and stigma due to mental health treatment and suicidal behavior.…”

Life is Precious: A Community-Based Program to Reduce Suicidal Behavior in Latina Adolescents

“…While some underlying issues, such as poverty (Zayas et al, 2010), cannot be addressed by LIP, the program aims to create a safe haven for adolescents to learn to confront key risk factors by helping them resolve family and acculturation conflicts (Zayas and Pilat, 2008, Cervantes et al, 2014, Ai et al, 2014, Pina-Watson et al, 2014, Gulbas et al, 2015), improving peer relations (Goldston et al, 2008), and enhancing academic achievement (Goldston et al, 2008, Hausman-Stabile et al, 2013). Future research should examine the specific mechanisms that help to address risk factors for suicide among adolescents.…”

“…If this tension occurs in an already-stressful family environment or in the context of other social stressors, the risk of suicidal ideation and attempts is increased (Zayas and Pilat, 2008). Latina adolescents who have different aspirations from their parents (Hausman-Stabile et al, 2013), who have acculturated to US mainstream culture more quickly than their parents (Cervantes et al, 2014), and who have greater feelings of powerlessness and of feeling unloved and disconnected from their families (Gulbas et al, 2015, Gulbas & Zayas, 2015) have higher rates of suicidal ideation.…”

Living with a Thousand Cuts: Self‐Cutting, Agency, and Mental Illness among Adolescents

“…It might be that intent is ambiguous because adolescents feel uncertain about their place in the world because of the competing and contradictory messages they receive about who they are and who they should be. (, 311)…”