Citation

Zhang J, Liang B, Zhou Y, Brame W. Int. J. Offender Ther. Comp. Criminol. 2010; 54(6): 959-983.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0306624X09348200

PMID

19793912

Abstract

Suicide is one of the leading causes of inmate death, and many studies have explored suicidal risks among inmates in Western countries. Such studies, however, have been extremely rare in China. Because of China's unique cultural and social conditions, suicide displays many distinctive features and one of them is the greater percentage of women (than men) who commit suicide. With data collected from three adult prisons in China, this study tests gender differences on prison inmates' suicidal risk factors and explores the correlation of gender's impact with other factors. Findings show that male and female inmates present distinctive patterns of suicidal ideation, although gender fails to exert a significant direct impact on the outcome. The results call for different approaches and treatments toward both gender groups for suicide prevention in Chinese correctional facilities.

Language: en