ABSTRACT
Background: Researchers explored the relationship between suicide ideation and acculturation among Mexican-American adolescents. In the introduction to their research report, they note that "Variables believed to be related to suicidal behavior that are prevalent more among Hispanic Americans and other minority groups than among non-Hispanic Whites include poverty, language difficulties that can contribute to feelings of estrangement, ethnic identity concerns, and discrimination... Furthermore, correlates of poverty such as depression and substance use/abuse theoretically might influence some Hispanic adolescents to experience even more emotional distress, thereby increasing their risk for suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. In addition to those stressors, some Hispanic adolescents may endure stress related to the pressures to acculturate and to conflicts with their relatively less acculturated parents ... All things considered, Hispanic youth possibly may be a subgroup of adolescents who could be more susceptible to suicidal behavior than are adolescents in general. .. "
