Award Date

5-1-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Human Services

First Committee Member

Scott Loe

Second Committee Member

Katherine Lee

Third Committee Member

Shannon Smith

Fourth Committee Member

Vanessa Vongkulluksn

Number of Pages

93

Abstract

Trauma exposure has been linked to a plethora of negative outcomes, including suicidality. Despite the abundance of research on the effects of trauma, little is known about its relationship with suicidality among adolescents. Moreover, even less research examines cultural and gender specific risk factors among Black adolescents. This study was founded on the cultural model of suicide, and the gendering of suicide theory, suggesting that suicidality in minority populations is influenced by cultural experiences (i.e., traumas) and perceptions of suicide, as well as gender differences that dictate where Black adolescents fall on the suicide spectrum. Using archival data (e.g., YRBSS) 2021 survey), a logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine cultural differences in suicidality among trauma exposed Black adolescents in a national sample of 11,572 high school students. Furthermore, to narrow the scope of analysis, a logistic regression modeling was also conducted to examine gender differences in suicidality among trauma exposed Black adolescents. Findings from this study revealed Black adolescents experience trauma (i.e., physical, and sexual violence) and suicidality (i.e., attempt suicide and an attempt that caused injury) at significantly higher rates than their non-black counterparts. Furthermore, trauma exposed Black adolescent females report significantly higher rates of suicidality when compared to trauma exposed Black adolescent males. Results from this study can inform preventative practices, treatments, and interventions for Black adolescents that have experienced trauma. This study contributes to the dismantling of the “strong black girl” and “strong black boy” phenomenon by examine how traumatic experiences contribute to the round rise in suicidal behaviors among Black adolescents.

Keywords

Black Adolescents; Cultural; Gender; Suicidality; Suicide; YRBSS

Disciplines

African Studies | Psychology | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies

File Format

pdf

File Size

911 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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