Inward‐ and Outward‐Directed Violence in the Lives of Urban Minority Adults Followed from Middle School into Their Thirties

Abstract

Highlights• We examined the connections between inward-and outward-directed violence in a sample of urban, mostly African American youth followed from middle school into their thirties. • Surveys assessed current suicidal thoughts and behaviors and other violence involvements.• Findings underscore the persistence of suicidality in the lives of those who come of age, and often remain, in communities with high levels of poverty. • Suicidality is related to reports of multiple aggressive behaviors over time, including prior and concurrent fights outside the home and intimate partner perpetration. • Life-stage interventions are needed to counter the interwoven causes and consequences of multiple forms of violence.