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Recentering and democratizing knowledge in suicide research requires community-engaged research, which social work scholars are uniquely equipped to do. This presentation aims to discuss the results of a qualitative study designed and carried out by social work scholars, examining the meaning Latinx and Black adolescents ascribed to the constructs of belongingness and burdensomeness proposed in the interpersonal theory of suicide (IPTS), one of the most used suicide theories in the world. The IPTS postulates that suicide ideation is caused by thwarted belongingness (no one cares) and perceived burdensomeness (I am a burden to others). Still, to move from ideation to attempts, the capability to die is necessary. We investigated the constructs associated with suicide ideation among Latinx and Black adolescents, an understudied population in suicide research. The findings from this study have implications for suicide prevention and intervention strategies targeting Latinx and Black youth by grounding theoretical constructs in the experiences of these youths. In this study, we use Latinx as a gender-inclusive term for individuals from Central and Latin America.
Methods
To answer the research question of what is the meaning Latinx and Black adolescents ascribed to belongingness and burdensomeness, we conducted a qualitative exploratory study using five focus groups with 29 self-identified Latinx and Black adolescents aged 13-17 years from community centers in New York City. We also explored their views about social media and these constructs. Adolescents and parents were consented. The interview guide was informed by the IPTS theory and used the interpersonal needs questionnaire (INQ-15). The INQ was created by the developers of the IPTS to operationalize the constructs of belongingness and burdensomeness to aid in the understanding of the etiology of suicide ideation and the identification of risk in clinical practice We conducted template analysis to analyze the data.
Results
Themes highlighted congruent dimensions with the IPTS belongingness and burdensomeness, such as caring, self-worth, and liability. Notably, new themes emerged, reflecting the distinctive experiences of these youths. For example, the family was at the center of the belongingness construct. Cultural and language dissonance was perceived as the root of the lack of belongingness to the families. Being loved for who they are, was also a new dimension of belongingness. Cultural aspects of burdensomeness, such as the financial burden that adolescents feared to impose on their families and unmet cultural parental expectations, highlighted dimensions not found in the existing IPTS theoretical constructs. Notably, the burden of not belonging was the most important factor associated with adolescents’ distress.
Conclusions and Implications.
The voices of Latinx and Black youths have been historically underrepresented in suicide research. Asking these youths about their views regarding the constructs of the IPTS to understand the etiology of suicide ideation can enhance the development of intervention strategies to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors for suicide behaviors relevant to this youth. Social workers strengthen their social justice mission when they engage the communities for whom the mental health interventions would be targeted.