A Cross-National Study of Suicide and Homicide

Abstract

An investigation of aspects of suicidal and homicidal behavior in a sample of eighteen nations identified three basic factors: the suicide rate, the homicide rate, and the male/female suicide rate ratio. A number of social, economic, and climate variables were examined for their association with these factors. The suicide rate was associated with the number of psychiatric patients and the birth rate. The homicide rate was associated with per capita income, cigarette consumption, and climate. The malel/fe male suicide rate ratio was associated wit h the number of psychiatric patients, climate, and the proportion of elderly in the population. The implications of the results are discussed.