Involvement in Physical Activity and Risk for Nearly Lethal Suicide Attempts

This study compared reports of recent physical activity among those surviving a nearly lethal suicide attempt to reports from community controls. Analyses were conducted on data collected between November 1992-July 1995 for a study of nearly lethal suicide attempts among people aged 13-34 years. Logistic regression analyses were used to test the association between suicide attempts & physical activity while controlling for demographic factors & potential explanatory variables, such as depression, alcoholism, & a serious medical condition. Suicide attempters were far less likely than controls to report involvement in physical activity in the past month. Intensity, frequency, & duration of activity did not affect this association. The association persisted after adjusting for demographic & potential explanatory variables. (30 refs.) JA