Health Disparities
Suicidal ideation, assets, and race in U.S. adults from 2023 to 2024 Catherine Ettman* Catherine Ettman Rajesh Satpathy-Horton Priya Dohlman Sandro Galea
Limited evidence exists on whether race modifies the link between assets and suicidal ideation. Using longitudinal data on a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults collected in Spring 2023 and 2024 (CLIMB study, N=1,863), we used multiple logistic regression to estimate the 2023 predictors of suicidal ideation in 2024, adjusting for age, gender, and race and ethnicity. 2) We tested for effect modification by race by estimating the fully adjusted model stratified by each race/ethnicity group and models with interactions between race and financial, physical, and social assets. In survey-weighted logistic regressions, income was significantly associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation in the following year ($0-$45,000 income relative to $150,000+ income: OR=2.5 [95% CI 1.2, 4.9]), although all other financial and physical assets were non-significant for the overall group. Low social support was associated with higher odds of next year suicidal ideation [OR=3.0, (95% CI 2.3, 4.0). Models stratified by race showed a negative association between some financial (income, savings) and social (education) assets with suicidal ideation among White non-Hispanic participants but not among Black or Hispanic persons. While income was protective for White groups against suicidal ideation, income was not protective for Hispanic groups. We found no evidence of differences in the association between income and suicidal ideation for Black versus White groups in interaction terms. Some financial assets appeared to be protective against suicidal ideation for non-Hispanic White persons but not for non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic groups. Social support was consistently associated with reduced suicidal ideation with no significant difference in the protective effect across race groups. Financial assets may have different mental health protection for White versus Black or Hispanic populations. Social support is the most consistently protective asset across groups.