Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Hollar, Daniel Leighton
Author's Email Address	hollar@psy.fsu.edu
URN	etd-07262010-113403
Title	The Predictive Ability of Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness Versus Culture-specific Indicators of Suicidality
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Psychology, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Thomas E. Joiner, Jr. Committee Chair Ashby Plant Committee Member Mark Licht Committee Member Na'im Akbar Committee Member Martell Teasley University Representative
Keywords	African Descent Burdensomeness African American Suicidality Suicide Belongingness Acculturative Stress Multicultural Inclusiveness African Self-fortification
Date of Defense	2010-06-28
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Introduction: The purpose of this study is to examine the connection between culture and psychopathology to determine if, belongingness and burdensomeness are more predictive of suicidality risk than multicultural inclusiveness, African self-fortification and acculturative stress among college students of African descent from two culturally distinct universities. The main hypothesis is that among individuals of African descent thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness and the interaction between the two will be more significant than multicultural inclusiveness, African self-fortification, acculturative stress, or those two-way interaction combinations. Methods: Approximately 170 consenting African American male and female undergraduate college students from two southeastern State universities participated in this study. Suicidality was assessed using the Beck Suicide Scale and depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: Hypotheses were supported. Regression 1 indicated the main effect of ethnicity on suicidality was non-significant and ethnicity did not significantly moderate the relationship between belongingness or burdensomeness and Suicidality. Regression 2 indicated university setting did not significantly moderate the relationship between Suicidality and belongingness or burdensomeness. Regression 3 indicated that the two-way interaction between burdensomeness and belongingness was of greater significance than culture-specific variables in predicting suicidality among individuals of African descent. Conclusions: Perceived burdensomeness and the belongingness X burdensomeness interaction are robust predictors of suicidality among individuals of African descent. Clinical implications are discussed.
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