Asian Americans’ Family Cohesion and Suicide Ideation: Moderating and Mediating Effects

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family cohesion and suicide ideation in a national, adult community sample of Asian Americans (N = 2072). The data for this study was drawn from the National Latino Asian American Study, the first national epidemiological study of Asian Americans’ mental health. The results indicate that family cohesion was negatively related to suicide ideation. In addition, English proficiency moderated the relationship between family cohesion and suicide ideation. Family cohesion was more strongly related to suicide ideation among low English proficiency Asian Americans than among high English proficiency Asian Americans. Further, the findings are consistent with a model in which the relationship between family cohesion and suicide ideation was partially mediated by psychological distress. Practical implications of the results are discussed in terms of how mental health professionals can help strengthen family cohesion and prevent suicide ideation among Asian Americans.