Attitudes of Professional and Community Groups Toward Male and Female Suicide

This study explored whether different attitudes exist toward female as opposed to male suicides & whether these conceptions varied according to one’s professional discipline. Subjects completing the SOQ (n=168) were psychologists, social workers, registered nurses & lay persons. Results indicated that seriousness of behavior for males vs. females was judged as significantly different both by item & by professional group. Some behaviors were perceived as more serious if the subject was male.(NBB)