Resource Tag: MUSIC

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This article examines music preferences as a predictor of suicidal ideation in 77 high school seniors. Students completed a questionnaire that contained questions on hopelessness, religion, suicidal ideation, & manic-depressive tendencies. The questionnaire also contained a scale on studentsÕ reasons for living. The article reports that suicidal ideation was predicted by depression, music preferences, & […]

This study probes the differentiating characteristics of youth who prefer heavy metal (HM) music, worship music, & use music for vicarious release. Logistic regressions revealed that HM music preference & worshipping is not significantly related to suicidal risk when controlling for other risk factors, for both boys & girls. The risk of music for vicarious […]

This article reports the findings of a study conducted on 78 undergraduates, in which 2 factors of music preferences were identified – a) heavy methal & rock & b) rap versus country. It was found that music preferences contributed to the prediction of suicidal ideation only in male students. Implications are discussed. (9 refs)

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The association between the portrayal of suicide in fictional media & actual suicide has been debated since 1774, when it was asserted that Goethe’s “The Sorrows of Young Werther” had led people to take their own lives. Since that time, a plethora of studies considering the association have been conducted. This review considered 34 studies […]

This review explores the influence on suicide of the print & electronic media, & considers both real & fictional deaths. The conclusion appears inescapable that reports about celebrities which are multi-modal, repeated, explicit, front page, glorify the suicide, & describe the method lead to an increase in suicides, particularly in the region in which reports […]

This article explores the link between heavy metal rock fanship & suicide acceptability. Metal fanship is thought to elevate suicide acceptability through such means as exposure to a culture of personal & societal chaos marked by hopelessness. A link between heavy metal fanship & suicide acceptability is found. However, this relationship becomes nonsignificant once level […]

This article provides an overview of the psychological autopsy as a research method, information about the unique characteristics of each of the 3 suicides studied, factors among the 3 cases that were consistent with research on adolescent suicide generally, commonalities across the 3 cases believed to be related to the subjects’ giftedness, & themes which […]

The Early Detection of Emotional Disorders Program has been funded for 3 years by the Austalian government through the National Mental Health Strategy. Its overall goal is the reduction of suicidal behaviours in young people. This report covers the operation of the first 2 years of the program & details how it has been implemented […]

In a sample of 93 undergraduates, preference for country & western music was not associated with depression or suicidal preoccupation as has been suggested by Stack & Gundlach. However, preference for heavy metal music was associated with prior suicidal ideation. Stronger associations were found between music preferences & measures of psychoticism & extraversion. (3 refs.)

This paper reports on the first systematic multivariate analysis of national data (USA) on the issue of heavy metal music subculture & pro suicide attitudes. Data on suicide attitudes are taken from the 1993 General Social Survey. Findings: controlling for church attendance & other independent variables, heavy metal fans are no more pro-suicide in their […]

This paper examines the psychiatric ailments of some of the great composers: two committed suicide, four suffered from severe depression, three had other ailments; & three had manic-depressive illnesses. The mood swings of these composers are compared with their periods of intense composition. For some, it seems that they were most productive immediately after a […]

This article profiles “grunge queen” Courtney Love, widow of rock star Kurt Cobain (April 1994 suicide). Described as becoming the most powerful female rock icon in the country, Love thinks everyone wants her dead. The author talks to her about sex, drugs, her daughter, her husband & his suicide.Love reflects on her childhood. Her mother […]

Stack & Grundlach (1992) tested & supported the hypothesis that the greater the air time devoted to country music in metropolitan areas, the greater the white suicide rate will be. The present authors could not replicate this effect in a 1994 study. This article describes Snipes & Maguire’s re-attempt to replicate the original results using […]

Previous work on country music & suicide has neglected individual-level data analysis of country music fans’ suicide risk, use of an average annual country music exposure index, an analysis of indirect effects, & an assessment of interaction effects. The present article addresses these issues. Country music fans are found to be at significantly higher risk […]

The attitudes/characteristics of adolescent males who like heavy metal music were studied. 179 White males from suburban Atlanta were interviewed. Subjects who liked heavy metal often listened to it while angry; they felt it relieved their anger & made them feel better. Others said that listening induced a positive mood. None expressed feelings of sadness/hopelessness. […]

The plaintiffs in a law suit alleged that the heavy metal rock band Judas Priest, & its publisher CBS, were liable for damages to 2 youths who shot themselves after listening to the band’s album. Crucial issues included “proximate cause” & “precipitating cause” in suicide, & the alleged role of subliminal messages. The judge ruled […]

This article describes a carbon monoxide suicide in Langley, BC by 3 Quebec/Labrador teens who drove across the continent to commit suicide. Their act seems to have been inspired by the suicide of rock star Kurt Cobain. A journal (60 pages of drawings & writing) describes the youth’s month-long “last trip” from the time of […]

This article reflects on media coverage of the suicide death of Kurt Cobain & quotes an earlier headline pointing to “depression” as an emerging theme in popular culture. Cobain’s message to youth through his music & lifestyle reflected his own depression & negative life experiences. This aricle explores Canadian conditions & why youth relate to […]

This article reports on some of the memorial activities that took place in The Netherlands following Cobain’s suicide & explores reasons why adolescents identify with his persona & music. It provides a literature review of studies which have examined the role of modeling in suicidal behavior & notes that to date, no study has clearly […]

This article was written in the wake of Kurt Cobain’s suicide. It explores the epidemiology of suicide in the United States, factors that may precipitate suicide & current research efforts. Two side pieces on Cobain & teenage suicide are also included.