Citation

DeCesare MA. Soc. Biol. 2000; 47(3-4): 264-276.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Society for the Study of Social Biology)

DOI

10.1080/19485565.2000.9989022

PMID

12055698

Abstract

This study replicates Singh's (1979) "classic" examination of correlates of euthanasia and suicide attitudes. The purposes of the current study were to assess (1) changes in public attitudes toward these voluntary termination of life practices, and (2) changes in the effects on attitudes of selected independent variables. I found Americans' approval of both euthanasia and suicide in 1996 to be higher than that in 1977. The increase in the approval of suicide, however, far outstripped that of euthanasia.

RESULTS of OLS regressions indicated that race, religious commitment, religious attendance, political identification, and suicide approval were statistically significant predictors of euthanasia approval. Only religious attendance and euthanasia approval were statistically significant predictors of suicide approval in both 1977 and 1996. The findings regarding euthanasia approval support those of Singh (1979); those regarding suicide approval do not. Triangulation of methods in future research is necessary to illuminate other aspects of these multifaceted issues.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Aged; Attitude; Attitude to Health; Death and Euthanasia; Empirical Approach; Euthanasia; Female; Humans; Least-Squares Analysis; Male; Middle Aged; Religion; Social Values; Suicide; Terminal Care; United States