Mother-Daughter Relationships and Suicide Attempts in Latinas
Author Information
Author(s): Luis H. Zayas, Carolina Hausmann-Stabile, Jill Kuhlberg
Primary Institution: Washington University in St. Louis
Hypothesis
Higher involvement in Hispanic culture will lead to more mutuality with mothers and lower levels of internalizing behaviors and suicide attempts.
Conclusion
The study found that greater mother-daughter mutuality, influenced by Hispanic cultural involvement, is associated with a reduced likelihood of suicide attempts among Latina adolescents.
Supporting Evidence
- Higher Hispanic cultural involvement was linked to better mother-daughter relationships.
- Lower levels of internalizing behaviors were associated with higher mutuality.
- Withdrawn depressive behaviors were a significant predictor of suicide attempts.
Takeaway
If Latina girls have a good relationship with their moms and are involved in their culture, they are less likely to think about or try to hurt themselves.
Methodology
The study used a cross-sectional design with 122 Latina adolescents who had attempted suicide and 110 who had not, assessing their cultural involvement, mutuality with mothers, and internalizing behaviors.
Potential Biases
Potential sampling bias due to the recruitment methods for suicide attempters and nonattempters.
Limitations
The sample was not randomly drawn and was limited to a specific urban area, which may affect generalizability.
Participant Demographics
Participants were adolescent Latinas aged 11-19, with a mix of cultural backgrounds including Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Mexican.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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