Suicide attempts among indigenous Sami adolescents and majority peers in Arctic Norway: Prevalence and associated risk factors

Abstract

The prevalence of suicide attempts and associated risk factors such as sociodemographic conditions, emotional/behavioural problems and parent–child relationships were examined among 591 indigenous Sami and 2100 majority adolescents in Arctic Norway. There were no significant ethnic differences in prevalence of suicide attempts. In both ethnic groups, suicidal ideation, anxious/depressed problems and eating behaviour problems were associated with suicide attempts. Cross‐cultural differences in risk factors associated with suicide attempts existed. For Sami adolescents, factors diverging from the traditional cultural norms were associated with suicide attempts, such as alcohol intoxication, single‐parent home and paternal overprotection (p⩽.05). Vocational studies, not living together with parents, current smoking and experienced sexual intercourse were ethnic specific risk factors associated with suicide attempts among majority peers (p⩽.05). Clinicians should take into account that risk factors can differ between ethnic groups and should be sensitive to culturally divergent behaviour.

Correlates of Suicidality: Investigation of a Representative Sample of Manitoba First Nations Adolescents

“…Additionally, other studies have shown positive associations between smoking and SI (Gartrell et al, 1993) and SA (Chino & Fullerton-Gleason, 2006;Freedenthal & Stiffman, 2004;Gartrell et al, 1993;Silviken & Kvernmo, 2007) in bivariate and some multivariate analyses.…”

“…Several studies examining the association between age and suicidal behaviour in indigenous adolescents have failed to find a relationship (Chino & Fullerton-Gleason, 2006;Manson et al, 1989;Silviken & Kvernmo, 2007;Yuen et al, 1996). However, a few studies have reported some findings.…”

“…Even in studies taking other community, family, and/or individual factors into account, associations have generally been found between substance use and increased suicidal behaviour in indigenous youth (Borowsky et al, 1999;Gartrell et al, 1993;Grossman et al, 1991;Kirmayer et al, 1998;LaFromboise et al, 2007;Silviken & Kvernmo, 2007;Yuen et al, 2000).…”

“…Additionally, American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents in the high risk group for suicide were more likely to perceive little care from their families (Blum, Harmon, Harris, Bergeisen, & Resnick, 1992). An absent parent in the home has also been shown in some cases to be related to an increased likelihood of suicidal behaviour in indigenous youth, however usually not in multivariate models (Borowsky et al, 1999;Chino & Fullerton-Gleason, 2006;Gartrell, Jarvis, & Derksen, 1993;Grossman et al, 1991;Silviken & Kvernmo, 2007).…”

“…Although assessment of psychopathology has varied across studies with an emphasis on depressive symptomatology, mental health problems have been associated with SI and/or SA (Borowsky et al, 1999;Chino & FullertonGleason, 2006;Dinges & Duong-Tran, 1994;Freedenthal & Stiffman, 2004;Grossman et al, 1991;Howard-Pitney et al, 1992;Manson et al, 1989;Silviken & Kvernmo, 2007;Yuen et al, 1996;Yuen et al, 2000) as well as with suicide completion (Kirmayer et al, 1998;Sigurdson et al, 1994) in bivariate and some multivariate models in indigenous youth in Canada, the U.S., and Norway.…”