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Indigenous Adolescents’ Suicidal Behaviors and Risk Factors: Evidence from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey

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Abstract

The study sought to examine indigenous adolescents’ suicidal behaviors and risk factors in a nationally representative sample and explore potential causes of disparities. The study analyzed the 1991–2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey National Combined Datasets. Suicidal behavior outcomes included suicide consideration, planning, and attempts during the past 12 months. Logit regressions were used to estimate the effects of potential suicide risk factors on these suicidal behaviors. The results showed that a high percentage of indigenous adolescents exhibited suicidal behaviors (consideration: 24.6 %; planning: 20.7 %; attempts: 16.2 %). After adjusting for risk factors, indigenous adolescents were no more likely than other adolescents to consider or plan for suicide (consideration: OR 1.18, CI 0.96-1.45, p = 0.125; planning: OR 1.16, CI 0.95–1.42, p = 0.156); however, they remained significantly more likely to have made suicide attempts (OR 1.73, CI 1.32–2.26, p < 0.001). Disparities in adolescent suicidal behaviors could be explained by the heterogeneous prevalence of suicidal risk factors across different races/ethnicities.

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Abbreviations

YRBS:

Youth Risk Behavior Survey

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 702 Rotary Circle, Room 022A, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Nan Qiao

  2. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 702 Rotary Circle, Room 022A, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Teresa Maria Bell

Authors
  1. Nan Qiao
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  2. Teresa Maria Bell
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Correspondence to Teresa Maria Bell.

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Conflict of interest

Nan Qiao and Teresa M. Bell have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Ethical Standards

This project received exempt status from the Indiana University Institutional Review Board.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Qiao, N., Bell, T.M. Indigenous Adolescents’ Suicidal Behaviors and Risk Factors: Evidence from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. J Immigrant Minority Health 19, 590–597 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0443-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0443-x

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