Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

882

Date

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Sociology

Committee Chair

Anna Strassmann Mueller

Committee Member

Martin L. Levin

Committee Member

Zandria F. Robinson

Abstract

Adolescent suicide is a major health problem in the U.S. Despite increasing research on this topic, current literature has failed to examine fully the intersection of race and suicide ideation. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study examines how various forms of social integration serve to protect black and white adolescents from suicide. Overall, I find that there are important differences and similarities between black and white youth in terms of how social integration works as a protective factor. Family caring protects white youth and black boys from having thoughts of suicide. One major difference between black and white youth concerned school and teacher attachment. I found that school attachment was only protective for white boys. These findings contribute to understanding why there is variation between boys and girls, and youth from different racial groups, in suicidality by helping identity how social integration works in adolescents' lives.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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