This study was designed to investigate and describe suicides in Delaware County over a ten-year period, 1963-1972, and to compare specific factors in the Delaware County suicides with Indiana suicides (1963-1972) and United States suicides (1963-1968). Indiana suicides were also compared with United States suicides for the years 1963-1968.Variables used in the study were as follows: (1) age, (2) race, (3) sex, (4) socioeconomic level, (5) method of self-destruction, (6) marital status, (7) month of death, (8) day of injury, (9) time of day, and (10) place of injury. Hypotheses generated from the variables have been analyzed through the use of the goodness of fit Chi-square test. Other data were summarized in terms of rates, frequencies, and percentages.1) AGESuicide in Delaware County is most prevalent in those 45-64, while Indiana seems to have a relatively high suicide rate in the 65+ age group.2) RACEFrom 1963 to 1972, only two non-white suicides were recorded in Delaware County. Unlike larger cities, Delaware County does not have an increasing non-white suicide rate. The white suicide distribution in Delaware County closely corresponds with the United States white suicide distribution, while Indiana has a somewhat lower white suicide distribution.3) SEXThe ratio of male suicides to female suicides in Delaware County and Indiana is very similar to the United States male female suicide ratio of 3 to 1.4) SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELIn Delaware County the greatest number of suicides was recorded by the middle class, while those in the upper social stratum committed the fewest suicides.5) METHOD OF SELF-DESTRUCTIONThe majority of suicide victims in Delaware County used firearms. Men favored the more violent means such as firearms and hanging, while most of the female suicide victims used poisons. 6) MARITAL STATUSFrom the results of the Delaware County study it would seem that marriage does not offer the protection against suicide that it once did. Over 60 percent of Delaware County suicides were committed by married individuals.7) MONTH OF DEATHSuicide peaks have been recorded for the time periods May June and October-November in Delaware County during the years 1963-1972.8) DAY OF INJURYMost of the Delaware County suicides have occurred during the first three days of the week: Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. The fewest suicides occurred on Friday and Saturday.9) TIME OF DAYFrom 1963 to 1972, more suicides occurred during the hours of noon to 6:00 P.M. However, at least one suicide occurred in each of the 24 hours of the day during this ten-year period. 10) PLACE OF INJURYThe home of the suicide victim is where most suicides occur. In Delaware County, 76 percent of the suicides occurred at the home of the victim.After analyzing the collected data, this investigator found Delaware County suicide distributions to be very similar to those Indiana and the United States for the years 1963-1972. Delaware County seems to typify trends of suicide occurring in the United States.Further studies may be warranted in the areas of female and elderly suicides. Investigations pertaining to the use of firearms as a method of self-destruction also are needed.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/175082 |
Date | January 1974 |
Creators | Bever, David L. |
Contributors | Pelizza, John J. |
Source Sets | Ball State University |
Detected Language | English |
Format | xiii, 126 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
Source | Virtual Press |
Coverage | n-us-in |
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