Citation

Giles-Sims J, Lockhart C. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2006; 36(6): 694-708.

Affiliation

Dept. of Sociology at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas., Dept. of Political Science at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1521/suli.2006.36.6.694

PMID

17250474

Abstract

Elderly Americans commit suicide at higher rates than other age groups. We contend that macro- and micro-social variables contribute distinct aspects to explanations of this tragic loss: the former focus on circumstances that affect overall rates, the latter reveal why certain individuals succumb to suicide. Our analysis focuses on the macro-social end of a causal sequence including variables at both levels. We describe how elderly suicide rates vary among states, show that macrosocial indicators of social integration contribute to cross-state variation in elderly suicide rates, and explain how selected aspects of state-level public policy contribute to reducing elderly suicide rates.

Language: en