Assessing cultural variables of suicidal ideation among Asian American and Asian international college students

The purpose of the present study was to delineate the pathways to suicidal ideation by examining risk factors that may be relevant to Asian American and Asian international college students, namely, acculturative stress, intergenerational family conflict, and perceived discrimination. In addition, the present study aimed to understand the moderating effect of indirect coping strategies on acculturative stress with suicidal ideation, intergenerational family conflict with suicidal ideation, and perceived discrimination with suicidal ideation. Three hundred fourteen Asian American and Asian international college students were included in this study. Results indicated that Asian American college students and Asian international college students who experience greater acculturative stress or intergenerational family conflict will experience greater suicidal ideation. Acculturative stress was the most important predictor of suicidal ideation out of the three cultural variables. The positive correlations between acculturative stress and suicidal ideation and intergenerational family conflict and suicidal ideation were significantly stronger among Asian American college students than. among Asian international college students. Lastly, the negative moderating effects of indirect coping strategies on suicidal ideation were significantly stronger among Asian international college students than among Asian American college students. Implications of the results and suggestions for future research are discussed.