Depression and Suicide Ideation: The Role of Self-Acceptance for Black Young Adults

Abstract

Suicide is a leading cause of death for Black young adults. Though depression is commonly linked to increased risk for suicide, empirical literature examining the depression–suicide association and intrinsic buffers for this association remains limited among Black young adults. This study sought to address this gap in the literature by examining the relationship between depression and suicide ideation among Black young adults. Importantly, this study assessed the moderating role of self-acceptance, an index of how content one is with oneself. Study participants included 123 Black young adults (63.5% female, Mage = 20.91 years, SD = 2.45 years) who completed measures evaluating symptoms of depression, suicide ideation, and psychological well-being. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that self-acceptance moderated the association between depressive symptomatology and suicide ideation ( β = −0.05, p < .01, 95% CI [-1.01, −0.11]), such that the depression–suicide ideation association was not significant for individuals who reported high levels of self-acceptance. These findings suggest that self-acceptance may be an important treatment target for interventions aimed specifically at reducing suicide vulnerability among Black young adults.

Sexual Assault, Posttraumatic Stress, Alcohol Use, and Suicidality Among Diverse College Students

“…Another potential explanation for this inconsistency is that both universities are minority-serving universities, and one is situated in a city with the presence of a strong Black community and subsequently potentially high self-acceptance surrounding the students of this study. Given that self-acceptance has been shown to reinforce resilience among Black youth and families (Bauermeister et al, 2007; Brooks et al, 2021; Butler-Barnes et al, 2013), a thriving Black environment is unfortunately a unique setting and may have led to a different pattern of results. Among other unexpected findings with regard to demographic variables, university emerged as a variable that was predictive of general suicidality.…”

Family functioning and suicidal ideation in college students: a moderated mediation model of depression and acceptance

“…Previous studies have shown that acceptance can effectively reduce one's level of depression and SI (58), and a meta-analysis has shown that ACT can reduce SI by improving one's level of acceptance and thereby improving their psychological flexibility (59). In addition, a recent study found that self-acceptance plays a moderating role between depression and SI (60). But self-acceptance is conceptually different from acceptance in ACT, and refers to the ability to think positively about yourself and your life, while acknowledging the good and bad qualities within yourself (60).…”

“…In addition, a recent study found that self-acceptance plays a moderating role between depression and SI (60). But self-acceptance is conceptually different from acceptance in ACT, and refers to the ability to think positively about yourself and your life, while acknowledging the good and bad qualities within yourself (60). Therefore, the moderating effect of acceptance on depression and SI is still worth studying.…”

Special Issue on Black Youth Suicide and Beyond

“…It may also be helpful to examine such patterns geographically as well. Brooks et al (2023) provide the fifth article in the special issue. They focus specifically on depression and suicide ideation and the moderating role of selfacceptance in Black young adults, broader than Black youth but encompassing Black adolescents.…”