Risk and Protective Factors for Suicidal Behavior in Abused African American Women Nadine J. Kaslow Emory University School of Medicine Martie P. Thompson Clemson University Alexandra Okun New York, New York Ann Price Marco International Sharon Young Pennsylvania Hospital Marnette Bender Georgia State University Sarah Wyckoff Emory Rollins Heather Twomey and Jennifer Goldin Emory University Ruth Parker Emory University School of Medicine This study examined risk and protective factors that differentiate low-income, abused African American women (N  200) who attempted suicide from those who had never made a suicide attempt. Results from multivariate analyses revealed that numerous and/or severe negative life events, a history of child maltreatment, high levels of psychological distress and depression, hopelessness about the future, and alcohol and drug problems were factors associated with attempter status. Protective factors associated with nonattempter status included hopefulness, self-efficacy, coping skills, social support, and effective- ness in obtaining material resources. Culturally competent intervention approaches for abused women should target increasing their protective factors and reducing their risk factors to decrease the likelihood that these women engage in suicidal behavior. Researchers have begun to examine intimate partner violence (IPV) as a risk factor for suicidal behavior in women (e.g., Abbott, Johnson, Koziol-McLain, & Lowenstein, 1995; Kaplan, Asnis, Lipshitz, & Chorney, 1995; Roberts, Lawrence, O’Toole, & Ra- phael, 1997). Recently, this link has been studied among African American women (Kaslow et al., 2000; Kaslow et al., 1998; Kaslow, Twomey, Brooks, Thompson, & Reynolds, 2000; Manetta, 1999; Stark & Flitcraft, 1996). Although efforts have been made to determine the variables that influence the association between IPV and suicidal behavior in African American women (Kaslow et al., 1998), none of this research has focused exclusively on women in abusive relationships. Reliable data on the experiences of women of color with IPV are sparse (Crowell & Burgess, 1996; Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998). For African American women, 6.0 of every 100,000 lose their lives to a partner or former partner, whereas for Caucasian women, 1.4 per 100,000 are victims of homicide by intimates (Crowell & Burgess, 1996). However, data on whether the prevalence of nonfatal IPV is Nadine J. Kaslow, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine; Martie P. Thompson, Department of Public Health Services, Clemson University; Alexandra Okun, indepen- dent practice, New York, New York; Ann Price, Marco International, Philadelphia; Sharon Young, Behavioral Health Services, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia; Marnette Bender, Department of Psychology, Geor- gia State University; Sarah Wyckoff, School of Public Health, Emory Rollins; Heather Twomey, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sci- ences, Emory University; Jennifer Goldin, Department of Psychology, Emory University; Ruth Parker, Department of Medicine, Emory Univer- sity School of Medicine. This study was funded by the Association of Schools of Public Health/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry grant Interpersonal Violence, Discord, and Suicidal- ity in Women. We thank Page Anderson, Julie Battle, Amy Brooks, Tia Dole, Manon Guenther, Lois Joseph, Jennifer Kleinman, Dianne McKin- ney, Debra Madera, Lindi Meadows, David Morgan, Akil Rashid, Bettie Reynolds, Mark Stevens, Jasmin Tiro, Gana Wood, and Donna Zaorski for their assistance with data collection; Arthur Kellerman and Nancy Thompson for their assistance in study design and implementation; and the staffs of the Emergency Care Center, Psychiatric Emergency Ser- vice, Urgent Care Center, Gynecology Emergency Clinic, and the Fam- ily Planning Clinic at the Grady Health System for assistance with recruiting. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Nadine J. Kaslow, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory Uni- versity School of Medicine, Grady Health System, 80 Butler Street South East, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. E-mail: nkaslow@emory.edu Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Copyright 2002 by the American Psychological Association, Inc. 2002, Vol. 70, No. 2, 311–319 0022-006X/02/$5.00 DOI: 10.1037//0022-006X.70.2.311 311