Depression and suicidal behavior among delinquent females

Abstract

Depressive symptomatology and suicidal behavior were evaluated in a multiethnic sample of 48 delinquent females through ratings on self-reports and probation officers' reports. Psychological functioning of the subjects was also evaluated through the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines, the Rorschach, and the WAIS or WISC-R in order to identify delinquent personality patterns. Four personality patterns were identified: the borderline, the antisocial, the neurotic, and the socialized delinquent personalities. A chi-square analysis of the data demonstrated that level of depression and frequency of suicidal behavior were both significantly related to personality patterns. Level of depression was also significantly related to ethnicity, but not to socioeconomic status. The results have implications for assessment and treatment of delinquent females and also raise issues concerning the interaction of personality, cultural factors, and delinquent behavior which should be addressed in future research with larger, socioculturally diverse samples.

Ethnocultural Aspects of Suicide in Young People: A Systematic Literature Review Part 2: Risk Factors, Precipitating Agents, and Attitudes Toward Suicide

“…The question remains, does the data prove that ethnicity and culture impact on suicide? Some studies have found ethnicity as not predictive or related to suicide risk (Garrison, Jackson, Addy, McKeown, & Waller, 1991; Gibbs, 1981; Greening & Stoppelbein, 2002; Warheit, Zimmerman, Khoury, Vega, & Gil, 1996); others have found it to be relatively important (Blum et al, 2000; Yuen et al, 2000). Roberts and Chen (1995) found ethnicity as being significantly related to the risk of suicidal ideation, even after controlling for a number of possibly confounding factors.…”

Conceptual, Methodological, and Sociocultural Issues in Black Youth Suicide: Implications for Assessment and Early Intervention

“…First, there are sociocultural differences in the expression of depression and/or suicidal intent; that is, black youths are more likely to be verbally abusive, to report somatic symptoms, to express sullen or hostile affect, to fail or act out in school, and to have very conflictual relationships with peers (Grier & Cobbs, 1968; Hendin, 1969; Smith & Carter, 1986). Second, persistent risk taking, involvement in sexual promiscuity, substance abuse, and delinquency in black youths are behaviors that may signal feelings of alienation, hopelessness, and despair, often resulting in self‐destructive activities or violent confrontations with the police (Gibbs, 1982). Third, the accumulation of life stress indicators should be noted, including such factors as loss of a parent by death or divorce; poverty; frequent mobility; chronic health problems; child abuse; parental unemployment; and parental history of psychiatric disorder, substance abuse, or criminal behavior.…”

Mental health outcomes of adjudicated males and females: the aftermath of juvenile delinquency and problem behaviour

“…Suicide is the most devastating mental health problem to be linked to delinquency. Previous studies suggest that suicidal behaviour among delinquents has prevalence rates between four and 10 times greater than those in the general population (Gibbs, 1981;Kempton and Forehand, 1992;Rohde et al, 1997a;Chagnon et al, 2001). …”