Citation

Balint L, Osvath P, Bozsonyi K, Fekete S. Psychiatr. Hung. 2014; 29(4): 360-368.

Affiliation

Kozponti Statisztikai Hivatal Nepessegtudomanyi Kutatointezet, Budapest, Hungary, E-mail: osvath.peter@pte.hu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Magyar Pszichiatriai Tarsasag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

25569825

Abstract

In our study, we set out to investigate whether there is a significant relationship between the count (raw rate) of suicides committed and the summer Olympic Games in such an achievement-oriented society like the Hungarian one, where summer Olympic Games receive extremely considerable attention. For our study, we examined the suicide cases occurring over 15706 days between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 2012 (43 years), separately for each gender. Because of the age-specific characteristics of suicide, the effect of the Olympic Games was analysed for the middle-aged (30-60 year-old) and the elderly (over 60 year-old) generations, as well as for the whole gender specific population. The role of the summer Olympic Games was examined with the help of time series intervention analysis after the cyclical and seasonal components have been removed. Based on our results, the effect of the Olympic Games is significant for the middle-aged (30-60 year-old) population. Neither in the older male, nor in any of the female age groups could a relationship between suicide and this sports event be detected. In summary, the Olympic Games seem to decrease the rate of suicide among middle-aged men slightly but significantly. In the interpretation of our results we emphasise the importance of the complex approach of suicidal behavior.

Language: hu