Citation

Lehmann M, Hilimire MR, Yang LH, Link BG, Devylder JE. Crisis 2016; 37(4): 265-270.

Affiliation

School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Publisher Hogrefe Publishing)

DOI

10.1027/0227-5910/a000399

PMID

27338292

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Self-esteem is a major contributor to risk for repeated suicide attempts. Prior research has shown that awareness of stigma is associated with reduced self-esteem among people with mental illness. No prior studies have examined the association between self-esteem and stereotype awareness among individuals with past suicide attempts. AIMS: To understand the relationship between stereotype awareness and self-esteem among young adults who have and have not attempted suicide.

METHOD: Computerized surveys were administered to college students (N = 637). Linear regression analyses were used to test associations between self-esteem and stereotype awareness, attempt history, and their interaction.

RESULTS: There was a significant stereotype awareness by attempt interaction (β = -.74, p =.006) in the regression analysis. The interaction was explained by a stronger negative association between stereotype awareness and self-esteem among individuals with past suicide attempts (β = -.50, p =.013) compared with those without attempts (β = -.09, p =.037).

CONCLUSION: Stigma is associated with lower self-esteem within this high-functioning sample of young adults with histories of suicide attempts. Alleviating the impact of stigma at the individual (clinical) or community (public health) levels may improve self-esteem among this high-risk population, which could potentially influence subsequent suicide risk.

Language: en