OC09 - Vulnerable groups

Psychosocial Correlates of Suicide Ideation among Immigrant Women in the U.S.: The Role of Resilience
August, 29 | 14:00 - 15:30

Immigrant women with lifetime exposures to violence are at high risk for suicide ideation (SI). This risk is exacerbated by poverty, less opportunity for education, and poorer employment outcomes, such that these social determinants of health further increase the risk of SI related to lifetime exposures to violence. In contrast, higher levels of resilience can play a significant role in mitigating the negative effects of lifetime exposures to violence. Resilience, in this study, refers to women’s self-perceptions of their capacity to recover from their adverse life experiences or successfully adapt to future adverse experiences. Cumulative exposures to adverse life experiences including violence can lead to lowered resilience capacity among women, such that these women are more likely to experience poor mental health outcomes (e.g., SI). Purpose: This study examined (1) effects of social determinants of health (e.g., levels of violence exposures, discrimination) and resilience capacity on SI; and (2) the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between lifetime violence and SI among immigrant women exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: Data were drawn from the baseline assessment of a randomized controlled trial of a technology-based intervention for immigrant women with exposures to IPV (n=1243). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis procedures. Findings: Exposures to multiple types of violence in childhood and adulthood (OR=1.726, p<.05), everyday discrimination (OR=1.022, p<.05), and financial stress (OR=1.529, p<.05) were significantly associated with increased likelihood of SI, after adjusting for other covariates (e.g., age). In contrast, social support (OR=0.971, p<.05) and resilience capacity (OR=0.695, p<.05) had a protective role and were related to reduced likelihood of SI among immigrant women. In the mediation model, both significant direct and indirect effects of lifetime exposures to violence on SI through resilience were observed, indicating that resilience partially mediates the relationship of violence with SI. Implications: The findings highlight the need for comprehensive interventions for immigrant women that (a) enhance access to and effectively address their mental health needs; (b) account for social determinants that exacerbate their risk for suicide ideation; and (c) strengthen social support and promote empowerment and resilience.

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