Ethnic and gender differences in additive effects of socio-economics, psychiatric disorders, and subjective religiosity on suicidal ideation among blacks

Abstract

Background:This study aimed to investigate the additive effects of socio-economic factors, number of psychiatric disorders, and religiosity on suicidal ideation among Blacks, based on the intersection of ethnicity and gender.Methods:With a cross-sectional design, data came from the National Survey of American Life, 2001–2003, which included 3570 African-American and 1621 Caribbean Black adults. Socio-demographics, perceived religiosity, number of lifetime psychiatric disorders and lifetime suicidal ideation were measured. Logistic regressions were fitted specific to groups based on the intersection of gender and ethnicity, while socioeconomics, number of life time psychiatric disorders, and subjective religiosity were independent variables, and lifetime serious suicidal ideation was the dependent variable.Results:Irrespective of ethnicity and gender, number of lifetime psychiatric disorders was a risk factor for lifetime suicidal ideation (odds ratio [OR] ranging from 2.4 for Caribbean Black women to 6.0 for Caribbean Black men). Only among African-American men (OR = 0.8, 95% confidence interval = 0.7–0.9), perceived religiosity had a residual protective effect against suicidal ideation above and beyond number of lifetime psychiatric disorders. The direction of the effect of education on suicidal ideating also varied based on the group.Conclusions:Residual protective effect of subjective religiosity in the presence of psychiatric disorders on suicidal ideation among Blacks depends on ethnicity and gender. African-American men with multiple psychiatric disorders and low religiosity are at very high risk for suicidal ideation.

Phenotypic Dimensions of Spirituality: Implications for Mental Health in China, India, and the United States

“…With the notable exception of inverse relationships with education in the United States, age, female gender, and level of education were found to directly correlate with each of the dimensions. These findings are generally consistent with previous research on sociodemographic factors of spirituality (Chatters et al, 1992; Levin et al, 1994; Assari, 2015). Older age has predicted higher levels of spirituality and religiosity in numerous studies, suggesting that on average spiritual views and practices intensify with age (Moberg, 1971; Levin, 1989; Levin and Taylor, 1993).…”

High Risk of Depression in High-Income African American Boys

“…The effect of SES indicators depend on the availability of other resources, which depends on a wide range of demographic and socio-economic factors [46], and how SES resources increase income, wealth, purchasing power, and living conditions including life styles and behaviors across sub-populations [44,47–50]. For instance, education is differentially associated with drinking patterns [44], risk of mortality [47], chronic disease [49], and depressive symptoms [49] and suicidality [50] of Whites and Blacks.…”

“…There is a growing body of research that suggests high SES may be associated with an increased mental cost particularly for African American men [15,49,50]. In the NSAL- Adult data, after the effects of religiosity and psychiatric disorders were controlled, high education level was positively associated with suicidality for African American men only.…”

Workplace Racial Composition Explains High Perceived Discrimination of High Socioeconomic Status African American Men

“…Weaker effects of educational attainment are shown in drinking behaviors [55], smoking [39], diet [56], sleep [57], suicide [18] body mass index (BMI) [58] and life expectancy [55] for African Americans than Whites. One explanation is that due to labor market discrimination [59], educational attainment generates far more income and wealth for Whites than for African Americans [60,61].…”