TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2011//
TI  - Seasonality of suicide in Shandong China, 1991-2009: Associations with gender, age, area and methods of suicide
JO  - Journal of affective disorders
A1  - Sun, Jiandong
A1  - Guo, Xiaolei
A1  - Ma, Jixiang
A1  - Zhang, Jiyu
A1  - Jia, Cunxian
A1  - Xu, Aiqiang
SP  - 258
EP  - 266
VL  - 135
IS  - 1-3
N2  - BACKGROUNDS: Whether suicide in China has significant seasonal variations is unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the seasonality of suicide in Shandong China and to assess the associations of suicide seasonality with gender, residence, age and methods of suicide. METHODS: Three types of tests (Chi-square, Edwards' T and Roger's Log method) were used to detect the seasonality of the suicide data extracted from the official mortality data of Shandong Disease Surveillance Point (DSP) system. Peak/low ratios (PLRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to indicate the magnitude of seasonality. RESULTS: A statistically significant seasonality with a single peak in suicide rates in spring and early summer, and a dip in winter was observed, which remained relatively consistent over years. Regardless of gender, suicide seasonality was more pronounced in rural areas, younger age groups and for non-violent methods, in particular, self-poisoning by pesticide. CONCLUSIONS: There are statistically significant seasonal variations of completed suicide for both men and women in Shandong, China. Differences exist between residence (urban/rural), age groups and suicide methods. Results appear to support a sociological explanation of suicide seasonality.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0165-0327
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2011.08.008
ID  - ref1
ER  -