Youth suicide trends in California: An examination of immigrant and ethnic group risk

Author(s): Shen, H. K.

Journal/Book: Suicide Life-Threaten Behav. 1996; 26: 72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012. Guilford Press. 143-154.

Abstract: Although immigrants are in better health than the U.S.-born population according to a variety of indicators, little research has investigated current foreign-born/U.S.-born differentials in suicide. A review of 32,928 California death certificates from 1970 to 1992 indicates that although foreign-born persons are consistently underrepresented in the suicide deaths of 15- to 34-year-olds (risk ratio = 0.60), any foreign- versus U.S.-born difference by ethnicity appears to be decreasing. Specifically, although Hispanics born outside the United States consistently are at significantly lower risk of suicide than U.S.-born Hispanics, the discrepancy between the two groups has diminished over time. And, in a comparable trend, non-Hispanic white persons born outside the United States were at higher risk of suicide than their U.S.-born counterparts until 1990, when their risk became similar. Black and Asian/other foreign- and U.S.-born persons have been at statistically similar risk since 1970. A man using a firearm at home was the typical pattern for both the foreign- and U.S.-born.

Note: Article SB Sorenson, Univ Calif Los Angeles, Sch Publ Hlth, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA

Keyword(s): COMMUNITY; STATES

Zurück | Weiter