A cross-national study on gender differences in suicide intent
Abstract Background Suicide accounts for over 58,000 deaths in Europe per annum, where suicide attempts are estimated to be 20 times higher. Males have been found to have a disproportionately lower rate of suicide attempts and an excessively higher rate of suicides compared to females. The gender di...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2017-06-01
|
| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-017-1398-8 |
| _version_ | 1818323773754966016 |
|---|---|
| author | Aislinné Freeman Roland Mergl Elisabeth Kohls András Székely Ricardo Gusmao Ella Arensman Nicole Koburger Ulrich Hegerl Christine Rummel-Kluge |
| author_facet | Aislinné Freeman Roland Mergl Elisabeth Kohls András Székely Ricardo Gusmao Ella Arensman Nicole Koburger Ulrich Hegerl Christine Rummel-Kluge |
| author_sort | Aislinné Freeman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Suicide accounts for over 58,000 deaths in Europe per annum, where suicide attempts are estimated to be 20 times higher. Males have been found to have a disproportionately lower rate of suicide attempts and an excessively higher rate of suicides compared to females. The gender difference in suicide intent is postulated to contribute towards this gender imbalance. The aim of this study is to explore gender differences in suicide intent in a cross-national study of suicide attempts. The secondary aims are to investigate the gender differences in suicide attempt across age and country. Methods Data on suicide attempts (acquired from the EU-funded OSPI-Europe project) was obtained from eight regions in Germany, Hungary, Ireland and Portugal. Suicide intent data was categorized into ‘Non-habitual Deliberate Self-Harm’ (DSH), ‘Parasuicidal Pause’ (SP), ‘Parasuicidal Gesture’ (SG), and ‘Serious Suicide Attempt’ (SSA), applying the Feuerlein scale. Gender differences in intent were explored for significance by using χ2-tests, odds ratios, and regression analyses. Results Suicide intent data from 5212 participants was included in the analysis. A significant association between suicide intent and gender was found, where ‘Serious Suicide Attempts’ (SSA) were rated significantly more frequently in males than females (p < .001). There was a statistically significant gender difference in intent and age groups (p < .001) and between countries (p < .001). Furthermore, within the most utilised method, intentional drug overdose, ‘Serious Suicide Attempt’ (SSA) was rated significantly more often for males than females (p < .005). Conclusions Considering the differences in suicidal intent between males and females highlighted by the current study, gender targeted prevention and intervention strategies would be recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T11:18:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec65af7420d14314b2f604d6a2571706 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T11:18:01Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec65af7420d14314b2f604d6a25717062022-12-21T23:48:35ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2017-06-0117111110.1186/s12888-017-1398-8A cross-national study on gender differences in suicide intentAislinné Freeman0Roland Mergl1Elisabeth Kohls2András Székely3Ricardo Gusmao4Ella Arensman5Nicole Koburger6Ulrich Hegerl7Christine Rummel-Kluge8Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität LeipzigKlinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität LeipzigKlinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität LeipzigSemmelweis UniversityNew University of LisbonNational Suicide Research Foundation & Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College CorkKlinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität LeipzigKlinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität LeipzigKlinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität LeipzigAbstract Background Suicide accounts for over 58,000 deaths in Europe per annum, where suicide attempts are estimated to be 20 times higher. Males have been found to have a disproportionately lower rate of suicide attempts and an excessively higher rate of suicides compared to females. The gender difference in suicide intent is postulated to contribute towards this gender imbalance. The aim of this study is to explore gender differences in suicide intent in a cross-national study of suicide attempts. The secondary aims are to investigate the gender differences in suicide attempt across age and country. Methods Data on suicide attempts (acquired from the EU-funded OSPI-Europe project) was obtained from eight regions in Germany, Hungary, Ireland and Portugal. Suicide intent data was categorized into ‘Non-habitual Deliberate Self-Harm’ (DSH), ‘Parasuicidal Pause’ (SP), ‘Parasuicidal Gesture’ (SG), and ‘Serious Suicide Attempt’ (SSA), applying the Feuerlein scale. Gender differences in intent were explored for significance by using χ2-tests, odds ratios, and regression analyses. Results Suicide intent data from 5212 participants was included in the analysis. A significant association between suicide intent and gender was found, where ‘Serious Suicide Attempts’ (SSA) were rated significantly more frequently in males than females (p < .001). There was a statistically significant gender difference in intent and age groups (p < .001) and between countries (p < .001). Furthermore, within the most utilised method, intentional drug overdose, ‘Serious Suicide Attempt’ (SSA) was rated significantly more often for males than females (p < .005). Conclusions Considering the differences in suicidal intent between males and females highlighted by the current study, gender targeted prevention and intervention strategies would be recommended.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-017-1398-8SuicideAttemptIntentGender differencesSuicidal behaviour |
| spellingShingle | Aislinné Freeman Roland Mergl Elisabeth Kohls András Székely Ricardo Gusmao Ella Arensman Nicole Koburger Ulrich Hegerl Christine Rummel-Kluge A cross-national study on gender differences in suicide intent BMC Psychiatry Suicide Attempt Intent Gender differences Suicidal behaviour |
| title | A cross-national study on gender differences in suicide intent |
| title_full | A cross-national study on gender differences in suicide intent |
| title_fullStr | A cross-national study on gender differences in suicide intent |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cross-national study on gender differences in suicide intent |
| title_short | A cross-national study on gender differences in suicide intent |
| title_sort | cross national study on gender differences in suicide intent |
| topic | Suicide Attempt Intent Gender differences Suicidal behaviour |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-017-1398-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aislinnefreeman acrossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT rolandmergl acrossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT elisabethkohls acrossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT andrasszekely acrossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT ricardogusmao acrossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT ellaarensman acrossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT nicolekoburger acrossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT ulrichhegerl acrossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT christinerummelkluge acrossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT aislinnefreeman crossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT rolandmergl crossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT elisabethkohls crossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT andrasszekely crossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT ricardogusmao crossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT ellaarensman crossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT nicolekoburger crossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT ulrichhegerl crossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent AT christinerummelkluge crossnationalstudyongenderdifferencesinsuicideintent |