Intimate Partner Problems and Suicide Among Immigrant Women: A Content Analysis of the National Violent Death Reporting System

Background & Purpose:
Intimate partner problems (IPP)—such as divorce, conflict, and intimate partner violence (IPV)—can severely impact mental health and increase the risk of suicide. Immigrant women facing IPP are especially vulnerable due to limited social support, lack of extended family, and barriers to accessing healthcare. However, there is limited research on the specific types of IPP that lead to suicide among immigrant women. This study used data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), the most comprehensive source of suicide mortality data in the U.S., to better understand the nature of IPP in these cases.

Methods:
We conducted a content analysis of 773 suicide cases involving immigrant women where IPP was documented in NVDRS narrative data (2013–2019). These narratives came from medical examiner and law enforcement reports. Using an existing coding framework (e.g., Kafka et al., 2022), we refined our coding scheme through three rounds of pilot testing on a random sample of 120 cases. After reaching 100% agreement through team discussion, two independent coders analyzed all 773 cases. The initial coding results and unclear cases were reviewed by two additional team members.

Results:
The most common IPP factors identified in the suicide cases were partner fights (44%), IPV (35%), breakups (20%), divorce (19%), separation (19%), financial problems (17%), and infidelity (15%). In the 266 IPV-related cases, 34% referenced IPV generally, without specifying the type of abuse. Notably, 20% of narratives indicated that the woman used suicide threats as a tactic in the relationship. Physical violence was noted in 11% of cases, and emotional abuse in 9%, with women described as victims, perpetrators, or both. We also found important differences in the suicide context depending on the type of IPP (p < 0.001). For example, women experiencing partner fights or IPV more often used highly lethal methods like firearms or hanging, and many acted impulsively without prior suicidal behavior. Women affected by breakups or who made suicide threats were more likely to have disclosed their intentions to their partners beforehand.

Conclusion & Implications:
This study is one of the first to examine how specific IPP contribute to suicide among immigrant women using a comprehensive national dataset. Our findings enhance understanding of the types of IPP associated with suicide and the contextual factors surrounding these deaths. This evidence can inform suicide prevention efforts by identifying key risk indicators within immigrant populations. Additionally, our presentation will share lessons learned in qualitative coding techniques to NVDRS narrative data and offer methodological insights for future research.

References
Kafka, J. M., Moracco, K. B. E., Taheri, C., Young, B. R., Graham, L. M., Macy, R. J., & Proescholdbell, S. (2022). Intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration as precursors to suicide. SSM-Population Health, 18, 101079.