553 Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 36(5) October 2006  2006 The American Association of Suicidology Suicide and African American Teenagers: Risk Factors and Coping Mechanisms Marisa Spann, PhD, Sherry Davis Molock, PhD, M.Div., Crystal Barksdale, MA, Samantha Matlin, M.Phil, and Rupa Puri, MA In this study we investigated whether locus of control, hopelessness, and depression were primary risk factors for suicide ideation and attempts in African American youth, and whether congruency between locus of control and religious coping style reduced suicide risk. The sample consisted of 176 African American high school students (115 females; 61 males). Multiple and logistic regression were used to determine relationships among study variables. Depression was found to mediate the relationship between hopelessness and suicidal behaviors. External locus of control led to greater risk for hopelessness and depression, with a trend in the predicted direction for suicide attempts. Religious coping style alone was not always associated with reduction of risk of suicidal behaviors, yet some evi- dence suggests that congruency between locus of control and religious coping style reduces risk. Results provide additional support for suicide interventions to target depressive symptoms. Results also highlight the importance of examining the role of culturally salient variables such as fatalism and religious coping style when developing intervention programs for suicide. Although the overall suicide rate among per- enal increase in completions among males (214%) vs. females (93%) (Centers for Dis- sons aged 10–19 years recently declined in the United States from 6.2 to 4.6 per 100,000, ease Control [CDC], 2002). Suicide attempts that required medical attention in African suicide remains the third leading cause of death for African American youth aged 15–24 American and Hispanic youth surpassed that of White American youth for the first time (National Center for Health Statistics, 2003). From 1980 to 1995, the suicide rates increased in 2003 (CDC, 2004); however, Caucasian Americans have been the focus of the bulk of 114% for 10–19-year-old African Americans; most of this increase was due to the phenom- research on suicide to date (Molock, Kim- brough, Lacy, McClure, & Williams, 1994). Paradigms and associated interventions that Marisa Spann is with the Yale University have emerged from studies on this popula- School of Medicine in New Haven, CT; and tion have been assumed to apply to all cul- Sherry Davis Molock, Crystal Barksdale, Saman- tural groups; yet, it is unclear if the risk and tha Matlin, and Rupa Puri are with George protective factors associated with suicide are Washington University in Washington, DC. consistent across cultures. In the current study This research was supported in part by a K-01 Career Development grant from the Na- we looked at variables generally associated tional Institute of Mental Health for the second with suicide risk, such as hopelessness and author. depression, and others less often associated Address correspondence to Sherry Davis with suicide risk, such as locus of control, to Molock, PhD, M.Div., George Washington Uni- determine their applicability to African Ameri- versity, Building GG, 2125 G Street, NW, Wash- ington, DC 20052; E-mail: smolock@gwu.edu can youth. For the purposes of this study, sui-