School Connectedness and Suicidal Ideation Among Black Youth: A Latent Class Analysis

Suicide rates among Black youth are rising faster than any other group, with increased deaths and suicidal behaviors. While research highlights protective factors like school connectedness in reducing suicide risk, limited person-centered studies focus on its association with suicidal behaviors among Black adolescents. This study identifies latent classes of school connectedness in Black adolescents, examines predictors of class membership, and explores the relationship between these classes and suicidal ideation. Data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study included an analytic sample of 1,323 Black/African American adolescents enrolled in public schools at age 15, providing a cross-sectional snapshot of the cohort during adolescence. Latent class analysis was conducted using six indicators of school connectedness, covariates, and suicidal ideation as the outcome. The Latent Class Analysis revealed three subgroups that existed among Black students: Optimal Connections (46.51%), Unstable Connections (42.10%), and Minimal Connections (11.38%). Youth in the Unstable and Minimal Connections classes were more likely to have a history of suspension/expulsion and report anxiety and depression symptoms compared to those in the Optimal Connections class. The Minimal Connections class had twice the likelihood of reporting suicidal ideation compared to the Unstable Connections class indicating they may be at higher risk for progression to suicidal behaviors. These findings highlight the diverse experiences of school connectedness among Black youth and its association with suicide risk. Integrating assessments of school connectedness into suicide prevention efforts can help identify students in need of support and inform targeted, culturally responsive interventions.