Inward‐ and Outward‐Directed Violence in the Lives of Urban Minority Adults Followed from Middle School into Their Thirties

• Published in: American journal of community psychology Vol. 65; no. 3-4; pp. 397 - 406
• Main Authors: O'Donnell, Lydia, Vrba, Eric, Miller, Melanie, Dash, Kim, Kar, Heidi, Reed, Gerald A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Science Ltd 01.06.2020
• Subjects: Aggression; Domestic violence; Intimate partner violence; Mental health; Middle schools; Minority health; Neighborhoods; Poverty; Self destructive behavior; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts; Victimization; Suicide; Aggression; Minority health; Intimate partner violence; Mental health
• ISSN: 0091-0562; 1573-2770
• DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12408

This study explores connections between inward‐directed violence and outward‐directed violence using data from the Reach for Health sample, which was originally recruited in the 1990s from three middle schools in economically distressed, predominantly African American neighborhoods of New York City. Now in their thirties, participants (N = 595) completed surveys assessing current suicidal thoughts and behaviors as well as other violence involvements, including intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration. About 10% of males and females reported any suicidal ideation or attempt in the past 12 months. In logistic regression analyses adjusting for sociodemographics, prior reports of feeling blue in middle school (OR: 1.12, CI: 1.02–4.39) and young adult suicidality (OR: 2.54, CI: 1.30–4.95) are significantly related to later suicidality. So are concurrent aggressive behaviors, including reports of physical fighting outside the home (OR: 2.70, CI: 1.29–5.67) and IPV perpetration (OR: 2.09, CI: 1.11–3.94). Neither IPV victimization nor witnessing neighborhood violence is correlated. Findings shed light on the persistence of suicidality in the lives of those who come of age, and often remain, in communities with high levels of poverty, and confirm linkages of suicidality with externally directed aggression. Life‐stage interventions are needed to counter the interwoven causes and consequences of multiple forms of violence. Highlights We examined the connections between inward‐ and outward‐directed violence in a sample of urban, mostly African American youth followed from middle school into their thirties. Surveys assessed current suicidal thoughts and behaviors and other violence involvements. Findings underscore the persistence of suicidality in the lives of those who come of age, and often remain, in communities with high levels of poverty. Suicidality is related to reports of multiple aggressive behaviors over time, including prior and concurrent fights outside the home and intimate partner perpetration. Life‐stage interventions are needed to counter the interwoven causes and consequences of multiple forms of violence.