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An exploratory study of funeral cost for suicides
1Psychology Program, Richard Stockton State College, Pomona, NJ 08240-9988.
Psychological Reports
|June 1, 1992
Summary
Funeral costs are lower for younger individuals and for cremation services. A study found that, after adjusting for demographics, funerals for suicide decedents were less expensive than for control groups.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Economics
- Public Health
Background:
- Funeral expenses represent a significant financial consideration for bereaved families.
- Understanding factors influencing funeral costs is crucial for financial planning and policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between decedent demographics and funeral expenses.
- To compare funeral costs between suicide decedents and a matched control group.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of funeral cost data from 156 funerals.
- Matching of cases and controls based on sex, age, and disposition method (cremation/burial).
- Statistical comparison of funeral costs between suicide and control groups.
Main Results:
- Funeral costs were significantly lower for younger individuals compared to older individuals.
- Cremation services were associated with lower overall funeral expenses than traditional burial.
- After matching for key variables, funerals for the suicide subgroup (n=6) incurred lower costs than those of the matched control group.
Conclusions:
- Age and method of disposition are significant determinants of funeral costs.
- Suicide decedents, in this matched analysis, had lower funeral expenses, warranting further investigation into the underlying reasons.