Do Extenuating Circumstances Influence African American Women's Attitudes Toward Suicide?

Authors

Michelle S. Marion, University of Southern Mississippi
Lillian M. Range, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2003

Department

Psychology

Abstract

African American women commit suicide less than other U.S. women and men, perhaps partly due to strong, anti-suicide attitudes. To see if suicide attitudes might be softened by extenuating circumstances such as terminal illness, 192 African American and European American women imagined themselves in one of four externuating circumstances, then completed measures of suicide acceptability and religiosity. Both ethnic groups reported a greater likelihood of suicide when imagining depression, regardless of religiosity. Religiosity, but not extenuating circumstances, corresponded with negative attitudes toward suicide and physician assisted suicide. These African American and European American young women remained steadfastly against suicide, regardless of circumstance.

Publication Title

Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior

Volume

33

Issue

1

First Page

44

Last Page

51

Recommended Citation

Marion, M. S., Range, L. M. (2003). Do Extenuating Circumstances Influence African American Women's Attitudes Toward Suicide?. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 33(1), 44-51.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/4393