Year: 1992 Source: The Journal of Social Psychology, v.132, no.1, (February 1992), p.135-137 SIEC No: 19920550

This study confirms the findings of Marshall (1981) that unemployment is a stronger correlate of national suicide rates in the USA over time than is the size of the military forces. However, for those aged 45-64, the effect of the war was statistically significant. The greater the involvement in war, the lower the suicide rate was, as predicted by Durkheim (1897). The effect of war was thus found to be significant in those less likely to be involved in the fighting (those aged 45-64). (10 refs.)