Citation

Lester D, Abe K. Arch. Suicide Res. 1998; 4(3): 281-285.

Affiliation

Center for the Study of Suicide, RR41, Blackwood, NJ 08012-5356, United States

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811119808258302

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Durkheim's sociological theory of suicide was examined to explore how well it performed in predicting the Japanese suicide rate from 1970 to 1989. Focusing on family social integration, only the divorce rate was associated with the suicide rate in the predicted direction (positively). Birth and marriage rates were not significantly associated with the suicide rate. Examination of the suicide rate by each method separately did not greatly improve the predictive power of Durkheim's theory. The study thus questions the applicability of Durkheim's theory to non-European nations.