Search

The role of social variables in suicide is examined from a microsocionomic and a macrosocionomic perspective. As an example, the influence of divorce on suicide is explored and hypothesized to differ for the individual and for the society as a whole.

The effect of war on the suicide rate and on the relative likelihood of suicide as a proportion of total personal aggression was examined in the United States for the time period from 1933 to 1986. Once unemployment was controlled for, no effect of war was detected.

It was argued that no society could be free of suicide. To test this, from published literature 27 social variables related to suicide were set to zero in the multiple regression equations, and the estimated suicide rate was observed to be positive and nonzero.

Suicide notes written by completed suicides were compared with suicide notes written by attempted suicides for the three motives for suicide described by Menninger. The motives of escape from pain and anger directed toward others did not differentiate the two samples of notes, but suicide notes written by completed suicides were more likely to have the motive of self-blame.

This study explored the relationship between the participation of married women in the labor force, both part-time and full-time, and rates of personal violence (suicide and homicide) in the continental United States. The participation of married women in the labor force was related to homicide rates. Homicide rates were higher in states where a greater percentage of married women worked full-time. In contrast, suicide rates were more strongly related to indices of social integration (e.g., interstate migration and divorce rates). These results are discussed in terms of differences in social attitudes in the various regions of the United States and the stresses created by women's working.