Suicide is a serious public health issue and prisoners represent a particularly high-risk group. Though there is consensus that suicide is embedded within culture, there have been limited empirical investigations into racial/ethnic variability concerning suicidal ideation and behavior among prisoners. The present study aimed to address this gap, increasing insight into the prevalence and correlates of suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide according to prisoners’ racial/ethnic background. Cross-sectional data were drawn from a nationally representative sample of 17,891 prisoners housed within 326 prisons across the United States. Analyses revealed that prisoners who identify as White were more likely to report a lifetime history of suicidal thoughts (13%) and attempts (19%) as compared to those who identify as Black (8% and 10%, respectively) and Hispanic/Other (8% and 13%, respectively). Data also highlight some similarities and differences in correlates of suicidal thoughts and attempts across racial/ethnic groups. Collectively, there is preliminary evidence to suggest that prisoners’ racial/ethnic background may shape whether and why they think about, and engage in, suicide. More research is needed on racial/ethnic variability in prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and behavior among prisoners, especially with respect to culturally relevant factors that might explain this variability.

自杀是一个严重的公共卫生问题，囚犯是一个特别高风险的群体。尽管人们一致认为自杀已嵌入文化之中，但对囚犯自杀观念和行为的种族/族裔变异性的经验研究有限。本研究旨在解决这一差距，根据囚犯的种族/族裔背景，进一步了解自杀念头和自杀未遂的发生率及其相关性。横截面数据来自全国代表性的样本，该样本在美国全国326所监狱中关押着17,891名囚犯。分析表明，与那些被确定为白人的囚犯（分别为8％和10％）相比，被确定为白人的囚犯更有可能报告一生的自杀念头（13％）和未遂（19％）。）和西班牙裔/其他（分别为8％和13％）。数据还突显了跨种族/族裔群体的自杀念头和企图之间的相似性和差异。总体而言，有初步证据表明，囚犯的种族/族裔背景可能会影响他们是否以及为什么考虑和参与自杀。需要对囚犯中种族/民族变异性以及自杀意念和行为之间的相关性进行更多研究，尤其是关于可能解释这种变异性的文化相关因素方面。有初步证据表明，囚犯的种族/族裔背景可能会影响他们是否以及为什么考虑和参与自杀。需要对囚犯中种族/民族变异性以及自杀意念和行为之间的相关性进行更多研究，尤其是关于可能解释这种变异性的文化相关因素方面。有初步证据表明，囚犯的种族/族裔背景可能会影响他们是否以及为什么考虑和参与自杀。需要对囚犯中种族/民族变异性以及自杀意念和行为之间的相关性进行更多研究，尤其是关于可能解释这种变异性的文化相关因素方面。