A culturally-informed approach to trauma, suicidal behavior, and overt aggression in African American adolescents

Trauma is a risk factor for suicidal behaviors and overt aggression among youth. Culture is important to consider when examining the links between trauma and these types of aggression, as well as when considering the risk and protective factors (intrapersonal, social and situational, Cultural, and environmental) that mediate and/or moderate these associations. Using a cultural lens, we suggest that a public health based model, referred to as the Theory of Triadic Influence (TTI), Provides a useful framework for examining the linkages among trauma, various risk and protective factors, and both suicidal behaviors and overt aggression. Because African American youth are more likely to experience trauma, focused and model-driven research is needed that call unravel cultural influences on the links from trauma, suicidal behaviors, and aggression. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.