Citation

Kushner HI, Sterk CE. Am. J. Public Health 2005; 95(7): 1139-1143.

Affiliation

Rollins School of Public Health, 5th floor, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322. hkushne@sph.emory.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2004.053314

PMID

15933234

PMCID

PMC1449331

Abstract

Recent applications of social capital theories to population health often draw on classic sociological theories for validation of the protective features of social cohesion and social integration. Durkheim's work on suicide has been cited as evidence that modern life disrupts social cohesion and results in a greater risk of morbidity and mortality-including self-destructive behaviors and suicide.We argue that a close reading of Durkheim's evidence supports the opposite conclusion and that the incidence of self-destructive behaviors such as suicide is often greatest among those with high levels of social integration. A reexamination of Durkheim's data on female suicide and suicide in the military suggests that we should be skeptical about recent studies connecting improved population health to social capital.