Suicide and the Interaction of Alcoholism (Liver Cirrhosis) With the Social Situation

Rates of alcoholism (liver cirrhosis mortality) & suicide by sex & race are compared using U.S. government statistics. Results showed rho’s of 1.00 for all men & .65 for white men but .01 for women & .34 for nonwhite men. It is suggested that these figures support the hypothesis that the relationship between alcoholism & suicide is mediated by the social reaction to aberrant behavior resulting from excessive drinking.