Differences in Nonfatal Suicide Behaviors among Mexican and European American Middle School Children
Susan R. Tortolero PhD,
Robert E. Roberts PhD,
Corresponding Author
Susan R. Tortolero PhD
University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health in Houston, Texas.
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center at Houston, 7000 Fannin 26th Floor, Houston, Texas 77030. Tel: 713–500–9634. FAX: 713–500–9602. E-mail: [email protected].Search for more papers by this authorRobert E. Roberts PhD
University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health in Houston, Texas.
Search for more papers by this authorSusan R. Tortolero PhD,
Robert E. Roberts PhD,
Corresponding Author
Susan R. Tortolero PhD
University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health in Houston, Texas.
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center at Houston, 7000 Fannin 26th Floor, Houston, Texas 77030. Tel: 713–500–9634. FAX: 713–500–9602. E-mail: [email protected].Search for more papers by this authorRobert E. Roberts PhD
University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health in Houston, Texas.
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This report describes ethnic and gender differences in suicide ideation among two large samples of middle school students in New Mexico (n = 2,140) and Texas (n = 1,302). Students completed a self-administered questionnaire on suicide ideation and psychosocial risk factors. Mexican Americans in both samples reported significantly higher prevalence of suicide ideation than did their European American counterparts. Mexican Americans were 1.8 times more likely to have high suicide ideation than European Americans. The suicide ideation risk for Mexican Americans remained unchanged in both samples after adjusting for gender, age, family structure, depression, low social support, and self-esteem. This study indicates that ethnicity plays an important role in suicidal ideation, but the mechanism remains unclear.
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