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Suicidal behavior in a population of Cape Verdean immigrant adolescents: A qualitative case study
Abstract
This qualitative case study identified possible causal/contributing factors in the suicidal behavior of several cases of Cape Verdean immigrant adolescents, and identified commonalities in this target group. Three Cape Verdean immigrant adolescent students who had manifested serious suicidal behavior, and three Cape Verdean immigrant adolescent students who had not exhibited such behavior participated in the study. A qualitative case study approach was utilized. The methodology of interviews and observations was employed. Students who had manifested serious suicidal behavior, were compared to each other and to students who had not exhibited suicidal behavior. The following research questions guided this study: (1) What possible causal/contributing factors are present in the case studies of students who had been suicidal? (2) What are the precipitating events in these cases of suicidal behavior? (3) Are there any commonalities in the causal/contributing factors in each of the cases studied? (4) What differences are noted when a comparison is made between the group of students that has exhibited suicidal behavior and the group that has not. It is this researcher's opinion that to a large degree, the Cape Verdean immigrant adolescents in this study exhibited suicidal behavior for the very same reasons that other young people manifest these behaviors. Serious family conflict, loss of loved ones through death and separation, feelings of isolation and rejection from family members and peers, and a lack of connectedness to a significant caretaker may have been the most overwhelming contributing factors. However, their experiences with emigration, culture shock, and racial/cultural/linguistic differences may have added just enough additional stressors to predispose them to a greater degree to suicidal behavior when the other more typical causal/contributing factors were present. The critical implication of the data from this study is that communities and schools need to join with families of the Cape Verdean immigrant population to develop strategies and programs to remedy this serious mental health issue.
Subject Area
School counseling|Clinical psychology
Recommended Citation
Roderiques, Marlene Rae, "Suicidal behavior in a population of Cape Verdean immigrant adolescents: A qualitative case study" (1992). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9233146.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9233146