Perception of Social Support, Acculturation, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation Among African American College Students at Predominantly Black and Predominantly White Universities

Abstract

Regina M. Kimbrough, Sherry D. Molock, and Kimberly Walton, Department of Psychology, Howard University* This study was designed to examine the relationships among perception of social support, acculturation, depression, and suicidal ideation among African American college students attending predominantly Black and predominantly White universities. Two hundred-six students were matched by age, gender, and SES background. No differences were found in depression and suicidal ideation among students at Black versus White institutions. African American students with nonsupportive families and friends were more likely to experience suicidal ideation and depression. The findings are discussed in light of the need to take into account the cultural context of the larger community surrounding a campus as well as the role of religious beliefs when assessing the support networks of African American students. INTRODUCTION Suicide is a major cause of death for young people in the United States. Census figures suggest that 32,000 individuals commit suicide each year (Holden, 1992). However, these figures underestimate the extent of the problem because a large percentage of attempted and completed suicides are not reported. Epidemiological data in the United States report suicide to be the second leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 15 and 19 and the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 15 and 24 (Berman & Jobes, 1995). A significant number of youth suicide occurs among the college population. Since the 1970s, approximately one thousand college students commit suicide each year, and approximately one hundred thousand attempt suicide each year (Peck & Bharadwadj, 1980). Higher rates of chronic stress, depression, the break-up of families, divorce, lack of social support, and the transitory nature of adolescence have all been indicated as possible factors related to the increase (Berman & Jobes, 1995; Curran, 1987; Wartik, 1991). In addition to stressors and perception of social support, literature also suggests that depression is a risk factor related to suicidal ideation (Bonner & Rich,1988). Early investigations have estimated that the lifetime risk of suicide for individuals with primary depression is about 15%, while the lifetime suicide risk for the general population is 1% (Slater & Depue, 1981). In the adolescent and young adult population, a strong relationship has been found between depression and suicidal behaviors (Friedman, Corn, Aronoff, Hurt, & Clarkin, 1984; Spirito, 1989). Very little research has examined suicidal behavior among African American college students. This lack of interest is surprising, given that suicide is currently the third leading cause of death among African American youth between the ages of 15 and 24, following homicides and accidental deaths (Gibbs, 1988, Griffith & Bell, 1989). Additionally, suicide rates for Black males aged 25 to 34 are quickly approaching the rates of White males in the same age group. Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicate that suicide rates for individuals between the ages of 20 and 24 have declined for all races and gender groups except Black males (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1995). The research that has been conducted on African American college students and suicide has focused on suicide attempt rates, rate of suicidal ideation, experience with suicide, coping strategies, and prevalence of stressors (Molock & Kimbrough, 1993; Molock, Kimbrough, Blanton-Lacy, McClure, & Williams, 1994). Molock et al. (1994) found suicidal behavior patterns among African American college students to be comparable to those found among White college students in so far as suicidal attempt rates are concerned. Differences found between these groups indicate that African American students have lower rates of reported suicidal ideation and fewer reports of alcohol or illicit drug use when attempting suicide. …