Suicide Attempts Among Indigenous Sami Adolescents and Majority Peers in Arctic Norway: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors

• NCJ Number: 219888
• Journal: Journal of Adolescence Volume: 30 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 613-626
• Author(s): Anne Silviken; Siv Kvernmo
• Date Published: August 2007
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the prevalence of suicide attempts and associated risk factors--such as sociodemographic conditions, emotional/behavioral problems, and parent-child relationships--among 591 indigenous Sami and 2,100 majority adolescents in Arctic Norway.

Abstract

The main finding was the absence of ethnic differences in the prevalence of suicide attempts. An important finding was the cross-cultural differences in patterns of risk factors for suicide attempts. This finding contrasts with the results of other research that generally shows a higher prevalence of suicide attempts among indigenous adolescents compared with their majority peers. In Arctic Norway, however, the Sami have achieved cultural equality and are less socially disadvantaged compared to other indigenous people. The lack of ethnic differences in the prevalence of suicide attempts found in the current study may be explained by these cultural and socioeconomic conditions. The ethnic-specific associations with suicide attempts found among Sami adolescents were a single-parent home, alcohol intoxication, and paternal overprotection. These factors diverged from the traditional Sami cultural norms. This article offers explanations as to why these factors have more links to suicide attempts among Samis than among mainstream Arctic Norwegian youth. Study data were obtained from the North Norwegian Youth Study, a longitudinal epidemiological anonymous questionnaire survey based on adolescent self-reports. The study was conducted in areas inhabited by Sami, Kvens, and Norwegians in Arctic Norway. The first wave was conducted in 1994/1995, and the second wave was conducted in 1997/1998. All high-school students (15-21 years old) were invited to participate in the survey (n=4,019). The final sample analyzed included 2,691 students (52 percent female) ages 16-18. The sample consisted of 591 Sami (55 percent females) and 2,100 majority youth (51 percent females). The survey measured variables related to sociodemographic characteristics, emotion/behavioral problems and risk-taking behavior, and the parent-child relationship. 4 tables and 35 references