A subjective sense of burdensomeness toward loved ones has been posited as a marker for high risk of suicide. The present study applied the burdensomeness model of suicide to a sample of suicide notes from the People's Republic of China. High levels of burdensomeness toward loved ones was significantly and negatively correlated with lethality of suicide method among suicide notes. In addition, males were more likely than females to employ more lethal means of suicide. Theoretical explanations for these findings are discussed, highlighting potential cultural influences.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ChilesJ. A.StrosahlK. D.PingZ. Y.MichaelM. C.HallK.JemelkaR.SennB., & RetoC. (1989). Depression, hopelessness, and suicidal behavior in Chinese and American psychiatric patients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 146, 339–344.
2.
de CatanzaroD. (1995). Reproductive status, family interactions, and suicidal ideation: Surveys of the general public and high-risk groups. Ethology & Sociobiology, 16, 385–394.
3.
GudykunstW. B. (1998). Individualistic and collectivistic perspectives on communication: An introduction. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 22, 107–134.
4.
HaysL. R.CheeverT., & PatelP. (1996). Medical student suicide, 1989–1994. American Journal of Psychiatry, 153, 553–555.
5.
HuaK. T. (1993). Suicide in Hong Kong 1971–1990: Age trend, sex ratio, and method of suicide. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 28, 23–27.
6.
JoinerT. E.Jr.WalkerR. L.PettitJ. W.VoelzZ. R.CruzJ.RuddM. D., & LesterD. (in press). Perceived burdensomeness and suicidality: Two studies on the suicide notes of those attempting and those completing suicide. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.
7.
KimM. S.SharkeyW. F.SingelisT. M. (1994). The relationship between individuals' self-construals and perceived importance of interactive constraints. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 18, 117–140.
8.
LeenaarsA. A. (1988). Suicide notes.New York: Human Sciences Press.
9.
LesterD. (1971). Choice of method for suicide and personality: A study of suicide notes. Omega, 2, 76–80.
10.
LesterD. (1997). The role of shame in suicide. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 27, 352–361.
11.
LesterD. (1998). The association of shame and guilt with suicidality. Journal of Social Psychology, 138, 535–536.
12.
MarkusH. R., & KitayamaS. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98, 224–253.
13.
McIntoshJ. L., & SantosJ. F. (1982). Changing patterns in methods of suicide by race and sex. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 12, 221–233.
14.
MokrosH. B. (1995). Suicide and shame. American Behavioral Scientist, 38, 1091–1103.
15.
O'DonnellI.FarmerR., & CatalanJ. (1993). Suicide notes. British Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 45–48.
16.
PritchardC. (1996). Suicide in the People's Republic of China categorized by age and gender: Evidence of the influence of culture on suicide. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 93, 362–367.
17.
RyanA. S. (1985). Cultural factors in casework with Chinese-Americans. Social Casework, 66, 333–340.
18.
ShiangJ.BarronS.XiaoS. Y.BlinnR., & TamW. C. C. (1998). Suicide and gender in the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Chinese in the US. Transcultural Psychiatry, 35, 235–251.
19.
ShneidmanE. (1985). Definition of suicide.New York: Wiley.
20.
TriandisH. C.BontempoR.VillarealM. J.AsaiM., & LuccaN. (1988). Individualism and collectivism: Cross-cultural perspectives on self-ingroup relationships. Journal of Personal & Social Psychology, 54, 323–338.
21.
WaiB. H. K.HongC., & HeokK. E. (1999). Suicidal behavior among young people in Singapore. General Hospital Psychiatry, 21, 128–133.
22.
ZhangJ. (1996). Suicides in Beijing, China, 1992–1993. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 26, 175–180.
