The Social Relationships of Suicidal Women (IN: Why Women Kill Themselves, ed. by D Lester)

This study examines the life histories of 50 adult females who have attempted suicide. The author describes 3 developmental periods: childhood family relationships during adolescence, & adult relationships with males. She finds that all the subjects had histories of negative relationships with the most important people in their lives. Their social & psychological experiences–such as physical abuse & other family problems–prepared them to be victims. (VM)