The Great Black Hope: Hope and Its Relation to Suicide Risk among African Americans

This is the first study to examine the relationship between hope and a specific theory of suicide in African Americans and predicted that hope would negatively predict the interpersonal suicide risk factors of burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness and positively predict acquired capability to enact suicide.

Abstract

Positive psychology has garnered considerable scholarly interest recently and has been suggested to hold promise in the application to suicide research and prevention; however, empirical research has lagged behind these suggestions. This is the first study to examine the relationship between hope and a specific theory of suicide in African Americans. It was hypothesized that (1) hope would negatively predict the interpersonal suicide risk factors of burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness; and positively predict acquired capability to enact suicide; (2) hope would negatively predict suicidal ideation; and (3) the interpersonal suicide risk factors would predict suicidal ideation. Results were primarily as predicted. Implications for hope theory and Joiner's theory of suicidal behavior are discussed, as well as implications for clinical practice.