Marital Status and Suicide in the United States: a Special Test of the Status Integration Theory

U.S. data on suicide are employed to test the theory of status integration. The findings are consistent with the theory, but more so for males than females. Such differential results are analysed in terms of 4 principles that stipulate “ideal” test conditions. These principles are not ad hoc explanations of negative findings, meaning that they can be generalized to all tests of the theory. Data are available for systematic application of 3 of the 4 principles & that opportunity should be taken.