Assets as Predictors of Suicide Attempts in African American Inner-City Youths

This study assessed whether developmental assets & risk-taking behaviours, as measured by the Search Institute instrument, were related to attempted suicide in African-American, inner-city youth. A survey of 336 youth was conducted. Significant odds ratios were found for 4 assets questions & 11 risk-taking behaviour questions by attempted suicide behaviour. The odds ratios ranged from 2.4-6.4 in magnitude. The percent of variation in suicide attempt behaviour explained by the asset questions (14.6% & 19.6%) was explained by the risk-taking behaviour/high-risk behaviour pattern questions. (35 refs.) JA