€Œconnectedness Is Subject to Changeâ€�: Exploring Social Connectedness through the Perspectives of Latina Adolescents at Risk for Suicide, Their Families, and Providers in the Life Is Precious Program

Background and Purpose:

Latina adolescents in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), yet culturally responsive interventions remain limited. Social connectedness is a key protective factor against suicide and an essential element of adolescent well-being. For Latina adolescents, connectedness is shaped by intersecting sociocultural, familial, and structural influences and is experienced as fluid and dynamic—shifting across time, relationships, and contexts. This study explores how Latina adolescents with lived experiences of STBs, their family members, and providers perceive and experience social connectedness within the context of Life is Precious (LIP), a treatment-adjacent, community-based intervention. Guided by Zayas’ Eco-Developmental Model and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS), the study examines how connectedness is experienced across ecological domains and how LIP may influence adolescents’ social networks and sense of connection.

Methods:

This qualitative study used purposive sampling across four LIP program sites in New York City. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with Latina adolescents (N=12), family members (N=5), and providers (N=12), along with photo-elicitation interviews with adolescents to deepen reflection on meaning-making and connectedness. Interviews explored experiences of connection and disconnection across family, peer, school, and community domains. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using a combination of a priori codes informed by theoretical frameworks and inductively derived codes from the data.

Results:

Social connectedness emerged as a dynamic, ever-changing process shaped by emotional safety, context, and relational reciprocity. In families, adolescents described both strong bonds and deep ruptures, often navigating tensions around loyalty, expectations, and communication. Peer relationships offered belonging but were vulnerable to betrayal and shifting trust. School connectedness was uneven—while some found support through affirming teachers and peers, others felt isolated due to discrimination, academic pressure, or cultural dissonance. Community connectedness was often tenuous, with structural barriers limiting adolescents’ ability to feel a sense of belonging beyond their immediate circles. Digital platforms provided both refuge and risk, reinforcing that online spaces can foster connection or deepen alienation. Within this landscape, LIP was consistently described as a space of safety, solidarity, and cultural affirmation. Peer support, trusted staff, and opportunities for identity exploration helped adolescents reconnect with themselves and others. Family members and providers reported strengthened relationships and increased engagement. However, sustaining these gains outside of the program remained a challenge due to ongoing stigma, structural inequities, and limited access to culturally responsive supports. These findings underscore that connectedness is not static but continually shaped by intersecting personal and systemic factors.

Conclusions and Implications:

This study deepens understanding of social connectedness as a multidimensional, culturally embedded, and fluid experience for Latina adolescents with lived experiences of STBs. Findings highlight the value of community-based, treatment-adjacent programs like LIP in cultivating connectedness, while pointing to the need for broader structural supports to sustain these gains. Implications include refining engagement strategies and expanding culturally grounded, strengths-based suicide prevention efforts.