Ecological factors influencing suicidal ideation-to-action among Latinx adolescents: An exploration of sex differences

Abstract

Abstract Little is known regarding how various system-level factors influence suicidal behaviors between Latinx female and male youth in the US. Using an ideation-to-action and an ecological systems theory framework, this study stratified Latinx adolescent males and females to examine the association between various micro, mezzo, and macro level factors and three suicidality outcome measures. This cross-sectional study used a subsample of self-identified Latinx adolescents (n = 3639) from the 2017-National Youth Risk Behavioral Survey. Multiple micro factors—depressed mood, cannabis use, and sexual assault—were associated with each step of the suicidality continuum. One mezzo factor, physical violence, was unique in the prediction of suicide attempt for Latinx males. At the macro level, no statistically significant relationships were found. Results from the backward elimination logistic regression also revealed that identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual showed the strongest association with suicidal ideation and suicide planning for both groups. However, it was the strongest association with suicide attempt among Latinx adolescent males, but not for Latinx adolescent females. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.