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Rape Victimization and Suicidality Among Black Girls in the United States
Akeem Modeste-James1, Stacey Freedenthal2, Camille Huggins3
1College of Social Work, The University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN USA.
Violence Against Women
|October 16, 2025
Summary
Rape victimization significantly increases suicide risk in Black adolescent girls. Survivors were over 2.5 times more likely to have a suicide plan and nearly 4 times more likely to attempt suicide.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Rape victimization is a critical public health issue affecting adolescents.
- Black adolescent girls face unique risks and disparities in mental health outcomes.
- Understanding the link between sexual violence and suicidality is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between rape victimization and suicidality among Black adolescent girls.
- To quantify the increased risk of suicide ideation and attempts following rape.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
- Analyzed a sample of 1,029 Black girls aged 14 to 18.
- Employed multivariate logistic regression to assess relationships.
Main Results:
- Black girls who experienced rape were 2.52 times more likely to have a suicide plan.
- Rape victimization was associated with a 3.94 times higher likelihood of suicide attempts.
- Significant disparities in suicide risk were identified for survivors of sexual violence.
Conclusions:
- Rape significantly elevates suicide risk in Black adolescent girls.
- Urgent need for school-based prevention and intervention programs tailored to this demographic.
- Addressing sexual violence is paramount for improving mental health outcomes and preventing suicide.
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