Citation

Range LM, Goggin WC. Death Stud. 1990; 14(3): 269-275.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07481189008252367

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

To assess reactions to suicidal and viral illness deaths of people of varying ages, 85 undergraduates completed the Youth Suicide Scale, which was modified to contain information about either a 10-, 18-, 30-, or 65-year-old's death. Consistent with past research, reactions to suicide were more negative, with participants seeing the individual and family as disturbed; and seeing the family as sad, blameworthy, unlikeable, in need of professional help, and believing they should have predicted the incident. Age of the victim made less difference, but participants thought that visiting the family of the 10-year-old would be more tense than visiting the family of older victims, and expected longer sadness and depression among families of 18- and 30-year-olds than 10- and 65-year-olds. Ageism is not a significant factor in reactions to suicide.

Language: en