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Relative misery and youth suicide.

J G Barber1

  • 1School of Social Administration and Social Work, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. jim.barber@flinders.edu.au

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|March 29, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Young men

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Youth suicide rates are a significant public health concern.
  • Understanding the psychological underpinnings of youth suicide is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the 'absolute misery hypothesis' linking youth suicide rates to psychological maladjustment.
  • To explore the role of absolute and relative unhappiness in youth suicidality.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-national regression analysis of World Health Organization youth suicide data.
  • Analysis of a Canadian survey (n=2,111) assessing suicidality, depressed affect, and social comparison in adolescents.

Main Results:

  • Male suicide rates were higher in psychologically well-adjusted countries, contradicting the absolute misery hypothesis.
  • For boys, suicidality was linked to combined depressed affect and negative social comparison.
  • For girls, suicidality correlated with both absolute and relative unhappiness.

Conclusions:

  • The 'relative misery hypothesis' is proposed, suggesting young men's suicide risk is influenced by their affective state relative to others.
  • Young women's suicide risk appears more influenced by absolute levels of unhappiness.
  • Preventing young male suicide may require interventions that reduce negative social comparisons.

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