Citation

Kim MJ. SSM Popul. Health 2021; 14.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100778

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examined suicidal ideation among Asian immigrant adults in the United States, with consideration of the roles of acculturation and social support. Using the 2002-2003 National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS), I conducted latent class analysis with measures of U.S. cultural orientation and Asian ethnic affiliation to create a multidimensional construct of acculturation. Three acculturation groups were identified (assimilated, integrated, separated) that showed different associations with suicidal ideation. Then I analyzed how the association between acculturation status and suicidal ideation is moderated by social support, distinguishing between perceived versus received support.

FINDINGS revealed that the buffering role of social support is gender-specific, with perceived support from friends reducing the risk of suicidal ideation only among assimilated women. Implications for future research include further application of acculturation as a multidimensional construct to various health outcomes and behavior as well as to other immigrant subgroups. Public health intervention efforts aimed at preventing suicide should endeavor to promote perceptions of an available social support system among immigrants and aid in establishing sources of support outside the family particularly for immigrant women. © 2021 The Author

Language: en

Keywords

Gender; United States; adult; human; Suicide; female; male; Immigrant; suicidal ideation; sex difference; social support; public health; Social support; Acculturation; Asian; major clinical study; cultural factor; social status; perception; educational status; immigrant; Article; social stress; family conflict; latent class analysis