Living in the Present Moment: The Role of Mindfulness in the Association Between Impulsivity and Suicidality Among Black Emerging Adults

Objectives Impulsivity is one factor that is associated with increased risk for suicide ideation and suicidal risk. However, limited studies have examined the association between impulsivity and suicidal risk, or clinically relevant protective factors, for Black Americans. While mindfulness is a robust coping mechanism and facilitator of psychological well-being, few studies have examined its role in the context of impulsivity and suicidal risk for Black Americans. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of mindfulness on the association between impulsivity and suicidal risk within a university sample of Black emerging adults. Method Data from 332 Black emerging adults (79.2% female; mean age = 22.4, SD = 5.6) were used to examine the indirect effect of impulsivity on suicide ideation and elevated suicide risk through mindfulness. Participants completed an online questionnaire battery that included measures of impulsivity, mindfulness, suicide ideation, and elevated suicide risk. Results After controlling for age and gender, mediation analyses revealed that impulsivity was directly and indirectly associated with suicide ideation and elevated suicide risk via lower levels of mindfulness. Conclusions This study provides preliminary insight into novel risk and protective factors that influence suicide ideation and elevated suicide risk among Black emerging adults. Further, these findings support the clinical utility of mindfulness as a potential buffer to the negative consequences of impulsivity for Black Americans. Preregistration This study is not preregistered.