TY - JOUR
T1 - Moral objections to suicide and suicidal ideation among mood disordered Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics
AU - Richardson-Vejlgaard, Randall
AU - Sher, Leo
AU - Oquendo, Maria A.
AU - Lizardi, Dana
AU - Stanley, Barbara
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this study was provided by NIMH Grant Nos. 59710, 62185, 48514 and 40695. The NIMH had no further role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
PY - 2009/1
Y1 - 2009/1
N2 - Understanding the beliefs that protect individuals against suicide can help to enhance suicide prevention strategies. One measure of suicide non-acceptability is the moral objections to suicide (MOS) sub-scale of the reasons for living inventory (RFLI). This study examined the MOS and suicidal ideation of White, Black, and Hispanic individuals with mood disorders. We expected minority individuals to have stronger objections to suicide. Method: Eight hundred and four, White (588), Black (122) and Hispanic (94) participants with DSM-IV diagnoses of MDD or bipolar disorder were administered the scale for suicide ideation, the reasons for living inventory and several measures of clinical distress. Results: Higher suicidal ideation was modestly correlated with lower MOS scores overall (r = 0.15, p = 0.001). Among Blacks however the relationship was inverted: despite having higher suicidal ideation than Whites or Hispanics, Blacks reported the least accepting attitudes toward suicide. Conclusion: These results suggest that attitudes regarding the acceptability of suicide may be independent of suicidal ideation.
AB - Understanding the beliefs that protect individuals against suicide can help to enhance suicide prevention strategies. One measure of suicide non-acceptability is the moral objections to suicide (MOS) sub-scale of the reasons for living inventory (RFLI). This study examined the MOS and suicidal ideation of White, Black, and Hispanic individuals with mood disorders. We expected minority individuals to have stronger objections to suicide. Method: Eight hundred and four, White (588), Black (122) and Hispanic (94) participants with DSM-IV diagnoses of MDD or bipolar disorder were administered the scale for suicide ideation, the reasons for living inventory and several measures of clinical distress. Results: Higher suicidal ideation was modestly correlated with lower MOS scores overall (r = 0.15, p = 0.001). Among Blacks however the relationship was inverted: despite having higher suicidal ideation than Whites or Hispanics, Blacks reported the least accepting attitudes toward suicide. Conclusion: These results suggest that attitudes regarding the acceptability of suicide may be independent of suicidal ideation.
KW - Ethnicity
KW - Moral objections to suicide
KW - Protective factor
KW - Reasons for living
KW - Risk factor
KW - Suicide acceptability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58149357678&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2008.03.008
DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2008.03.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 18499127
AN - SCOPUS:58149357678
SN - 0022-3956
VL - 43
SP - 360
EP - 365
JO - Journal of Psychiatric Research
JF - Journal of Psychiatric Research
IS - 4
ER -