Suicidal Behavior Among Low-Income African American Women: A Comparison of First-Time and Repeat Suicide Attempters

Abstract

This investigation ascertained dimensions of a suicide attempt and psychological and historical risk factors that differentiate low-income, female, African American suicide attempters as a function of having made a single, first-time attempt versus multiple attempts. Two groups were compared: first time attempters ( n= 135) and repeat attempters ( n= 139). Participants were recruited from a large, urban hospital following a suicide attempt (i.e., index suicide attempt). Sociodemographic characteristics, details of the index attempt (i.e., the attempt that prompted entry into the study), psychological functioning, hopelessness, substance abuse, and trauma history were assessed. The two groups were largely similar across sociodemographic characteristics. Multivariate analyses of variance were used to test hypotheses. Relative to first-time attempters, the attempts of repeat attempters involved higher levels of intent, planning, and perceived lethality and were associated with more psychological distress, hopelessness, substance abuse, and childhood trauma. Research and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.