Suicide Statistical Analysis of Suicide

Suicide

Statistical Analysis of Suicide and African-American Culture

From a general statistical standpoint, the risk of suicide is lower among black Americans than their white counterparts. However, racial distinctions can provide a useful framework for connecting certain cultural and environmental realities to suicidal tendencies. This is the imperative that underscores the review below of four corresponding articles:

The first article considered here is that provided by Neeleman et al. (1998), entitled "Suicide acceptability in African- and white Americans: the role of religion" and originally published in Vol. 186, No. 1 of the Journal of Nervous Mental Disorders. This article proceeds from the primary research question which inquires into the relationship between religious belief and suicide acceptability. The study seeks to measure this correlation as subdivided by race. Therefore, using a sample of black and white respondents, proposes suicide acceptability as the dependent variable.

The independent variables are the race of the respondent, the respondent's religious orientation and certain emotional variables. Among these three primary categories of independent variable, subdivisions of religious orientation would prove particularly relevant to the study's findings. Here, qualities such as orthodox religious beliefs and personal devotion would be measured using the cognitive dissonance model with adjustment for ethnic response bias. The ANOVA strategy of statistical evaluation would prove well-suited to the demand for measuring sometimes slight variations between respondents that could ultimately be used to draw far-reaching conclusions. Among these conclusions would be the finding that higher levels of suicidal acceptability are found in white demographics than in black demographics in inverse proportion with the permeation of religious devotion.

The subject of the study by Walker et al. (2006) would be quite similar in nature to that by Neeleman et al. Entitled "Lay Theories of Suicide: An Examination of Culturally Relevant Suicide Beliefs and Attributions Among African-Americans and European-Americans" and published in Vol. 32, No. 3 of the Journal of Black Psychology, the study also seeks to measure the connection between suicidal proclivities and racial affiliation. The primary research question here, however, centers on African-Americans specifically, using 'European-Americans' as a control group. Here, the racial variation accounts for the appropriateness of ANOVA statistical analysis.

Additionally, race is the independent variable in this study, with the two dependent variables being lay beliefs and attributions toward suicide. In order to assess the relationship between these variables, the study engaged 251 respondents of African-American and European-American ethnicity from an undergraduate context. Measurements were gained using a wide range of indexing instruments. The study identifies the Attitudes Toward Suicide Scale, Life Ownership Orientation Questionnaire, Stigma Questionnaire, and Suicide Ideation Questionnaire as the data-collection tools and the basis for the set of findings ultimately channeled through ANOVA statistical assessment.

Part B:

The study by Kaslow et al. (2000), entitled "Risk Factors for Suicide Attempts Among African-American Women" and originally published in Vol. 12 of Depression and Anxiety, employs a multivariate analysis in order to identify the primary risk factors that can be used to predict a propensity toward suicidal behavior amongst African-American Women.

The study would consult a sample of 285 African-American women who presented at the hospital used for the data-collection process. Of the presenting women, 137 were admitted for general treatment requirements and 148 were admitted following a suicide attempt. Here, the dependent variable is identified as the proclivity toward suicide. The researchers identify four independent variables due for measurement. These are identified as psychological distress, hopelessness, drug abuse, and relationship discord. (Kaslow et al., p. 13)

The study collected data using interviewing techniques that would occur within a 24 to 72 window of the subject's hospital admission. Findings would be measured in the categories of Psychological Risk Factor Variables and Interpersonal Risk Factor Variables. These would rely, respectively, on the 53-item Brief Symptom Inventory author by Derogatis & Spencer (1983) and the Locke-Wallace Martial Adjustment Tests (1959).

Multivariate Analysis would ultimately prove an appropriate strategy for statistical assessment for its capacity to incorporate a wide range of measurements into a single analytical discussion. According to the study, "A multivariate logistic regression model was con- structed that included the significant univariate risk factors (three demographic variables, four psycho- logical risk factors, and five interpersonal risk fac- tors). By using the combination of these 12 variables, suicide attempt status could be predicted correctly 77% of the time. " (Kaslow et al., p. 16) as the findings of the research ultimately show, this model would help to produce a statistically reliable mode of forecasting suicidal risk and, therefore, an effective response to the research question which inquires upon the connection between certain risk factors and the proclivity toward suicide.

As with the study by Kaslow et al., the study by Lincoln et al. (2012), taken from the April e-Pub edition of Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology and entitled "Suicide, negative interaction and emotional support among black Americans" seeks to answer a primary research question connecting certain risk factors among African-Americans with a propensity toward suicide. Likewise, the study sets out to use multivariate logistical regression analysis in order to explore the proportions of this perceived correlation.