Abstract: Pathways from ACEs and Age to Mental Health Seeking Among Black Youth (Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference - Recentering & Democratizing Knowledge: The Next 30 Years of Social Work Science)
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114P Pathways from ACEs and Age to Mental Health Seeking Among Black Youth

Schedule:
Friday, January 12, 2024
Marquis BR Salon 6, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
* noted as presenting author
Camille Quinn, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Brianna Smith, MSW, PhD Student, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Donte Boyd, PhD, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Ed-Dee Williams, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI
Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and mental health problems degrade Black youth’s life quality and increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. ACEs: sexual and physical abuse or neglect and violence exposure are risk factors for suicide. The impact of ACEs seems most evident in the context of mental health with ACEs accounting for nearly 40% of cases of depression, and 30% of cases of anxiety, in the United States, which are associated with increased rates of suicide. Despite the seriousness of mental health among young people they remain the least likely to seek help when problems arise, even though these problems can hinder their everyday functioning and well-being. The current study seeks to understand how ACEs influences mental health seeking behaviors via suicidal behaviors among Black youth.

We propose four hypotheses: (a) Higher ACEs will be associated with suicide ideation and planning, (b) Age will be associated with suicide ideation and planning, (c) Suicide ideation and planning will be associated with suicide attempts, (d) Suicide attempts will be associated with mental health behavior seeking, and (e) ACEs will be indirectly and associated with both suicide attempts and mental health behavior seeking.

Methods: Using a sample of Black youth (18 to 24) (N=350) collected via online, we utilized a path analysis to examine the direct and indirect effects of ACEs and age on suicidal behaviors and mental seeking behaviors. The average age of the sample is 21 (SD: 1.91) and youth resided in the Midwestern United States. Qualtrics respondents were recruited from March 15 to April 13, 2023, by a requested Qualtrics panel. We used a path analysis to examine the direct and indirect effects of ACEs and Age on mental health seeking behaviors via suicidal behaviors.

Results: Among Black youth, ACEs was positive and directly associated with suicide ideation (b =0.28, p<.001) and planning (b =0.30, p<.001). Suicide planning was positive and directly associated with suicide attempts (b =0.37, p<.001). ACEs were negative and indirectly associated with mental health seeking behaviors (b =0.03, p<.05) and suicide attempts (b =0.03, p<.001).

Conclusion: Considerations for studying ACEs as well as their impact on the health and well-being and support for Black youth is needed to enhance their quality of life as well as the context of their lives are discussed. Future research may want to consider how suicidal behaviors, ACEs and other barriers prevent Black youth from seeking health care. Understanding these barriers can potentially help with the development of culturally relevant interventions that are needed to support the health and well-being of Black youth.

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