Domestic Integration and Suicide in the Provinces of Canada

Abstract

Canada's rate of suicide varies from province to province. The classical theory of suicide, which attempts to explain the social suicide rate, stems from Durkheim, who argued that low levels of social integration and regulation are associated with high rates of suicide. The present study explored whether social factors (divorce, marriage, and birth rates) do in fact predict suicide rates over time for each province (period studied: 1950-1990). The results showed a positive association between divorce rates and suicide rates, and a negative association between birth rates and suicide rates. Marriage rates showed no consistent association, an anomaly as compared to research from other nations.

Social inclusion affects elderly suicide mortality

“…The results of our study support Durkheim's theory, as well as some newer studies (Johnson, 1965) that consider a higher level of social and family integration to be protective. Whereas Durkheim suggested that both extremely high and extremely low levels of social integration and social regulation are associated with high suicide rates, Johnson (1965) argues that in modern societies only low levels of these social characteristics are associated with high suicide rates (Leenaars and Lester, 1999). According to Durkheim, traditional family life provides the best protection against selfdestructive behavior.…”

Psychiatrist availability, social disintegration, and suicide deaths in U.S. counties, 1990–1995

“…To capture social disintegration, the divorce rate was used as the third main independent variable. The divorce rate has been found in sociological science as the strongest and most reliable indicator of social disintegration (Ben Park & Lester, 2006;Breault, 1986;Fernquist, 2007;Leenaars & Lester, 1999;Stack, 2000). It was measured as the percentage of women divorced, 1990.…”

“…Past reports have shown that measures of area social disintegration, such as divorce rates are consistently strong predictors of suicide (Breault, 1986;Evans et al, 2004;Fernquist, 2007;Leenaars & Lester, 1999;Neumayer, 2003;Trovato, 1986). Other studies have found that area social disintegration measures are stronger determinants of suicide than area deprivation and area socioeconomic status (Crawford & Prince, 1999;Middleton, Whitley, Frankel, & Dorling, 2004;Whitley, Gunnell, Dorling, & Davey-Smith, 1999).…”

Association of Suicide Rates of Elderly Persons with Fertility Rates

“…Durkheim postulated a negative correlation between societal suicide rates and social integration (defined as the extent to which members of society are bound together in social relationships). Birth rates (Lester & Yang, 1992;Leenaars, Yang, & Lester, 1993;Lester, 1994aLester, , 1994bLester, , 1994cLester, , 1996Lester, , 1999Wiedenmann & Weyerer, 1994;Lester & Garcia, 1995;Leenaars & Lester, 1999;Bridges & Pearson, 20041, fertility rates (Austin, Bologna, & Dodge, 1992), marriage rates (Leenaars, et al, 1993;Lester, 1994aLester, , 199413, 1994cLester, , 1996Lester, , 1999Wiedenmann & Weyerer, 1994;Lester & Garcia, 1995;Leenaars & Lester, 1999), divorce rates (Austin, et al, 1992;Lester & Yang, 1992;Leenaars, et al, 1993;Lester, 1999;Leenaars & Lester, 1999), and unemployment rates (Austin, et al, 1992;Lester & Yang, 1992;Leenaars, et a/., 1993) have been used as proxies for the amount of societal integration in studies of suicide rates. Additionally, presence of spouse and children is thought to improve social integration and reduce suicide rates (Durkheim, 1992).…”