Effects of Race and Precipitating Event on Suicide Versus Nonsuicide Death Classification in a College Sample

Abstract

The present study examined race group differences in suicide death classification in a sample of 109 Black and White university students. Participants were randomly assigned to read three vignettes for which the vignette subjects’ race (only) varied. The vignettes each described a circumstance (terminal illness, academic failure, or relationship difficulties) that preceded the vignettes subject's ambiguously premature death. Participants were asked to describe “what happened”. Black participants were significantly less likely than White participants to attribute a vignette target's death to suicide and also less likely to report that suicide is acceptable. Implications for future research and prevention efforts are discussed.

Black Americans report greater resilience to suicide unless its interpersonally motivated and are more accepting of others right to die

“…Black participants were significantly more likely than White participants to endorse these views. These results contrasted with prior research suggesting that people who identify as Black hold broadly less accepting views of suicide than those who identify as White (Odafe et al , 2016; Walker and Flowers, 2011). However, much of this research focuses on the extent to which suicide is considered an option rather than the right to choose suicide.…”

“…Other aspects of identity, such as racial/ethnic identity, may similarly shape attitudes toward suicide. While there is a small body of research on racial/ethnic attitudes toward suicide, all of this research focuses on the acceptability of suicide and its impact on suicide risk or mortality (Walker and Flowers, 2011; Joe et al , 2007). The current study aims to fill a critical gap in research on racial/ethnic disparities in suicide by examining multiple domains of attitudes toward suicide and comparing these attitudes across a broad range of racial/ethnic groups.…”

“…The results indicated that African American adolescents, Latinx adolescents and non-Hispanic White adolescents had comparable attitudes toward suicidal behavior (Joe et al , 2007). In contrast, a cross-sectional study of college students found that Black Americans were significantly less likely to report suicide as acceptable compared to White Americans (Walker and Flowers, 2011). When comparing African American suicide attempters to non-attempters, individuals with a past attempt reported higher levels of suicide acceptability (Anglin et al , 2005).…”

Perceived Racism and Suicide Ideation: Mediating Role of Depression but Moderating Role of Religiosity among African American Adults

“…() found that anxiety was an indicator of risk of White but not Black study participants. African American college students and African American suicide attempters, compared with their European American counterparts, are significantly less likely to report having a first‐degree relative who died by suicide or knowing someone who died by suicide (Roy, ; Walker & Flowers, ). African Americans who died by suicide are cited as being twice as likely as European Americans to have used a firearm (Joe, Marcus, & Kaplan, ).…”

Tobacco Use and Suicidality: Latent Patterns of Co-occurrence Among Black Adolescents

“…For instance, young Black s may have different cultural beliefs and disclose suicidality less readily than Caucasians and therefore may endorse features indicative of suicidality in a unique fashion ( Morrison & Downey, 2000 ;Poussaint & Alexander, 2000 ;Walker & Flowers, 2011 ;Walker, Lester, & Joe, 2006 ). Research indicates that there is stigma related to disclosing thoughts of ending one ' s own life , which has been attributed to religiosity/moral objections and belief in coping/hardiness of the Black community ( Morrison & Downey, 2000 ;Poussaint & Alexander, 2000 ;Walker et al, 2006 ).…”