Sex Differences and Their Effect Upon Cultural Evaluation of Methods of Self Destruction

Studied 694 college students. Found differences for 6 of 9 methods. Women associated painlessness & efficiency with drugs-poison; men associated masculinity, efficiency & being knowledgeable of the method with firearms. Supports theories of the relation between sex, sociocultural patterns & methods of self-destruction. Implications for clinical evaluations of female attempters regarding their intent to suicide may be underestimated if females report they are considering drugs-poison.