NCJ Number
56641
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Volume: 39 Issue: 10 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 761-765
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE FINDINGS OF THE REPORTED STUDY INDICATE AN INCREASE IN THE RATE OF FEMALE AGGRESSIVE SUICIDE METHODS DURING 1966 TO 1972, ALTHOUGH THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FEMALE SUICIDES SHOWED NO INCREASE.
Abstract
SUICIDE TRENDS GENERALLY REFLECT THE STABILITY OF THE STATUS QUO WITHIN A TARGET POPULATION. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE ACTIVISM OF THE 1960'S, MANY FEMALES REASSESSED THEIR LIVES AND ENTERED INTO LESS TRADITIONAL LIFESTYLES. NEVERTHELESS, THESE SOCIAL CHANGES LED TO INCREASED CONFLICT FOR MANY WOMEN, WITH THEIR CONFRONTATION OF CULTURAL UNCERTAINTIES AND RESENTMENT. IT IS HYPOTHESIZED, THAT IF THE EXTENT OF SOCIAL NORMLESSNESS IS A VIABLE PREDICTOR OF SUICIDE TRENDS, AND IF SOCIAL ROLES ARE CHANGING, THEN FEMALE SUICIDES SHOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY VIOLENT IN METHOD. THIS HYPOTHESIS WAS TESTED USING THE SUICIDE STATISTICS FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE PERIOD OF 1966 TO 1972. THE BASIC ANALYSIS OF DEATH CERTIFICATES COMPARED 131 FEMALE VICTIMS AND 425 MALE VICTIMS, AND INDICATED THAT THE PROPORTIONATE RELATIONSHIP OF FEMALE TO MALE SUICIDES DID NOT DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE 7-YEAR PERIOD. A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, HOWEVER, OCCURRED DURING THE TEST PERIOD IN THE RATIO OF FEMALES' USE OF AGGRESSIVE SUICIDE METHODS TO USE OF PASSIVE SUICIDE METHODS. DIFFERENCES IN METHOD WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT AFTER 1968, INDICATING THAT MALE AND FEMALE AGGRESSIVE SUICIDE METHODS ARE CLOSELY PROPORTIONAL. OVERALL, 74 PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION USED AGGRESSIVE TECHNIQUES. ALTHOUGH THE SUICIDE TRENDS ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE, THEY DO INDICATE SOME RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL DISRUPTION AND INCREASED FEMALE ANOMIC SUICIDE. REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)