Impulsivity and Reasons for Living Among African American Youth: A Risk-Protection Framework of Suicidal Ideation

Temilola K. Salami, Bianca A. Brooks and Dorian A. Lamis
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Temilola K. Salami: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin St., Athens, GA 30602, USA
Bianca A. Brooks: Department of Clinical Psychology, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St., Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
Dorian A. Lamis: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Emory University, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: This study aims to explore the impact of specific facets of impulsivity as measured by the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS), as well as reasons for living in predicting suicidal ideation among African American college-aged students. The incremental validity of each facet of the UPPS interacting with reasons for living, a construct meant to buffer against risk for suicide, was explored in a sample of African American students ( N = 130; ages 18–24). Results revealed significant interactions between reasons for living and two factors of impulsivity, (lack of) premeditation and sensation seeking. Higher levels of sensation seeking and lack of premeditation in conjunction with lower reasons for living was associated with increased suicidal ideation. Neither urgency nor (lack of) perseverance significantly interacted with reasons for living in association with suicidal ideation. These results suggest including elements of impulsivity, specifically sensation seeking and (lack of) premeditation, when screening for suicidal ideation among African American youth. Future investigations should continue to integrate factors of both risk and protection when determining risk for suicide.

Keywords: reasons for living; suicide; impulsivity; African American (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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