The Family, Socio-Economic Development and Suicide: A 52 Nation Comparative Study

Abstract

Empirical studies of the family and suicide are few, while comparative studies of family structure and suicide are rare. Past cross-national comparative studies of suicide rates and family variables employ only a few independent variables and a limited number of countries. Using a sample as broadly comparative as possible, we examined Durkheim�s theory of the family and suicide for 52 nations. Sixteen variables are analyzed. Family measures such as divorce are associated with higher rates even after controls for socio-economic differences among the nations of the world. It is suggested that as socio-economic data for the 1980�s becomes generally available for many of the nations of the world, it may be possible to use the data presented here as the basis for a trend analysis of family change, suicide and economic development over time.