scholarly journals The Role of Self-Esteem in Suicides Among Young Men

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette Lyberg Rasmussen ◽  
Kari Dyregrov ◽  
Hanne Haavind ◽  
Antoon A. Leenaars ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud

This study explores self-esteem in suicide among young males with no earlier history of suicide attempt(s) or treatment in mental health services. The data come from an ongoing psychological autopsy study; 10 cases of young men aged 18 to 30, were selected to generate a phenomenologically based understanding of the psychological mechanisms and processes involved in the suicidal process. The analyses are based on in-depth interviews with 61 closely connected individuals, as well as suicide notes. We used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. For these young men, the transition to young adulthood, a period of major life challenges, seemed to be associated with personal defeats. According to their significant others, the deceased seemed to have experienced intolerable discrepancies between their actual performances and their ideal self standards. Four themes emerged from the analysis: (a) striving to find a viable path to life as an adult man; (b) experiencing a sense of failure according to own standards; (c) emotional self-restriction in relationships; and (d) strong feelings of loneliness and rejection of self. Improved understanding of suicides outside the mental illness paradigm may have important implications for preventive strategies.

Death Studies ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 549-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette L. Rasmussen ◽  
Hanne Haavind ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud ◽  
Kari Dyregrov

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvin Kiamanesh ◽  
Kari Dyregrov ◽  
Hanne Haavind ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud

This study explores suicide in relation to perfectionism among individuals who died by suicide with no history of treatment in mental health care or of suicide attempts. The study is part of an ongoing psychological autopsy study (PA-study). It aimed to produce a phenomenological understanding of the dynamics/processes from perfectionism to suicide among 6 men aged 22 to 58. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the interview data of 41 key informants. Based on the informants' narratives, it seemed that perfectionism left these men less able to cope with their (self-perceived) inability to meet their high expectations. Four themes emerged from analysis: 1) striving for success; 2) fear of failure; 3) keeping up the facade; and 4) rigidity. The results may be important in the prevention of nonclinical suicides, a group that is particularly difficult to identify, especially if the deceased have been regarded as very successful in many areas.


2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvin Kiamanesh ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud ◽  
Kari Dyregrov ◽  
Hanne Haavind

This study aimed to explore how the life history of suicide victims with no history of treatment in mental health care or of attempted suicide seemed to presdispose them to maladaptive perfectionism. The study is part of an ongoing psychological autopsy study. It aimed to produce a phenomenological understanding of the vulnerability to suicide related to perfectionism, based on the life history of six male suicide victims aged 22 to 58. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze the interview data of 41 key informants. Three main themes emerged: (a) exposure to high expectations combined with little recognition and warmth; (b) reduced ability to cope with failures and weaknesses; and (c) fear of emotional rejection. Together these themes illustrate that feelings of shame, mainly resulting from an unfulfilled need for attachment, a desire for love and recognition may relate to maladaptive perfectionism, which influences the suicidal process. The results may have important implications for suicide prevention programs.


1998 ◽  
Vol 173 (6) ◽  
pp. 531-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erkki T. Isometsä ◽  
Jouko K. Lönnqvist

BackgroundThis study investigated three questions with major implications for suicide prevention: the sensitivity of the history of previous suicide attempt(s) as an indicator of suicide risk, the time interval from a preceding suicide attempt to the fatal one, and switching of suicide methods by those eventually completing suicide.MethodThe lifetime history of suicide attempts and the methods the victims (n=1397) used were examined in a nationwide psychological autopsy study comprising all suicides in Finland within a 12-month research period in 1987–1988.ResultsOverall, 56% of suicide victims were found to have died at their first suicide attempt, more males (62%) than females (38%). In 19% of males and 39% of females the victim had made a non-fatal attempt during the final year. Of the victims with previous attempts, 82% had used at least two different methods in their suicide attempts (the fatal included).ConclusionsMost male and a substantial proportion of female suicides die in their first suicide attempt, a fact that necessitates early recognition of suicide risk, particularly among males. Recognition of periods of high suicide risk on the grounds of recent non-fatal suicide attempts is likely to be important for suicide prevention among females. Subjects completing suicide commonly switch from one suicide method to another, a finding that weakens but does not negate the credibility of restrictions on the availability of lethal methods as a preventive measure.


2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. HAWTON ◽  
S. SIMKIN ◽  
J. RUE ◽  
C. HAW ◽  
F. BARBOUR ◽  
...  

Background. Female nurses appear to have an increased risk of suicide but the reasons are unknown.Method. We have concluded a study of nurse suicides (N = 106) in England and Wales, including a psychological autopsy study (N = 42) and case–control comparison with living nurses (N = 84).Results. Nearly three-quarters of the nurse suicides had previous contact with psychiatric services and almost half had been psychiatric in-patients in the past. There were particularly marked differences between the cases and controls for current psychiatric disorder (90·5% v. 7·1%, OR = 68·5), personality disorder (38·1% v. 1·2%, OR = 32), and history of deliberate self-harm (71·4% v. 2· 4%, OR = 58·5). Family background and social factors (especially concerning interpersonal relationships) also distinguished the two groups. Smoking and serious alcohol abuse were much more frequent in the suicides. There was some indication that while many of the suicides were in contact with psychiatric services, care may not have been optimal in some cases.Conclusions. The most important strategies for suicide prevention in nurses are in prevention, detection and management of psychiatric disorders. In assessing suicide risk a history of DSH and the presence of comorbid psychiatric and personality disorders are particularly important.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 36-46
Author(s):  
Anna Sydor

Background Incidence of sexually transmitted infections has increased in both young men and young women. Young men do not access sexual health services in the same numbers as young women, this study sought to discover young men’s experiences. Aims This paper reports one overarching theme from an interpretative phenomenological study that sought to discover the experiences of young males (aged 20–24) addressing or failing to address their sexual health. Owing to the sensitive subject under investigation, these participants were hard to reach for research purposes. Methods This study used interpretative phenomenological analysis and the researcher was a young female (aged 20–30), in contrast with participants. This affected data collection and analysis so the importance of reflexivity in interpretative phenomenological analysis is discussed here. Results Six superordinate themes were identified: sexual health knowledge and attitudes; feelings about masculinities; communication; feelings about healthcare; feelings about working; and keeping fit. From these, three overarching themes were developed, these reflect the depth of data analysis undertaken. One of these themes, the ‘hidden moral code’, and the importance of researcher reflexivity in its identification are discussed here. Conclusions It is suggested that interpretative phenomenological analysis is a particularly suitable method for nursing research, which allows and embraces the influence and attributes of the researcher. This paper considers one superordinate theme in depth, chosen because the researcher’s attributes are a significant factor in its recognition.


1998 ◽  
Vol 173 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannele Heilä ◽  
Erkki T. Isometsä ◽  
Markus M. Henriksson ◽  
Marti E. Heikkinen ◽  
Mauri J. Marttunen ◽  
...  

BackgroundSuicides among people with schizophrenia are commonly believed to be impulsive and to occur unexpectedly.MethodAs part of the National Suicide Prevention Project in Finland, a nationwide psychological autopsy study, suicide victims with DSM-III-R schizophrenia (n=86; n=64 in the active illness phase) and others (n=1 109; n=666 without any evidence for psychosis) were compared for communication of suicidal intent (CSI), as well as previous suicide attempts known by the next of kin and/or an attending health care professional during the latest treatment relationship.ResultsMore victims with schizophrenia (84%) had a history of previous CSI, and/or had made previous suicide attempt(s) than others (70%). Also, victims with active illness schizophrenia (56%) had more CSI and/or had made suicide attempts during their last three months than victims with no psychosis (41%).ConclusionsCSI and/or suicide attempts occur at least as often in people with schizophrenia as in those without schizophrenia, even in the active phase of the illness.


2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 696-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Kizza ◽  
Birthe Loa Knizek ◽  
Eugene Kinyanda ◽  
Heidi Hjelmeland

The psychosocial circumstances surrounding men’s suicide in postconflict Central Northern Uganda were investigated using qualitative psychological autopsy interviews. Records of 17 men who died by suicide were identified through police and local leaders in Internally Displaced Peoples’ camps of Amuru and Gulu Districts. Two to five significant others were interviewed around each case. Data were analyzed by interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Lost dignity and social value, lack of hope for the family’s future, overwhelming family responsibility, and mental illness were circumstances found to have preceded the suicides. The protracted war in the Northern region of Uganda left men in rural communities feeling disempowered and disenfranchised. This may have contributed to suicidal behavior in some of them. Suicide prevention in this area needs to be multidisciplinary with an emphasis on helping both men and women understand and deal with the many social changes that have evolved over time and affected their traditional roles and responsibilities.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11801
Author(s):  
Yunfang Zhou ◽  
Zhenyu Ma ◽  
Cun-Xian Jia ◽  
Liang Zhou

Background The relationship between impulsivity and suicide is inconsistent in different populations. Hence, the relationship between impulsivity and suicide still needs to be studied among the elderly population. The present study intends to explore the relationship between impulsivity and suicide among the rural Chinese elderly. Methods A case-control psychological autopsy study was conducted from February 1, 2014 to December 18, 2015 among rural residents over the age of 60 who died by suicide. The sample consisted of 242 suicides as the case group and 242 living individuals as the control group. Data on demographic characteristics, impulsivity, previous history of suicide attempts, social support, negative life events, and suicidal behavior were collected. Results Our study found that impulsivity increased the risk of suicide. The case group showed a higher Barratt Impulsiveness Scale score compared with the control group (p < 0.001), which indicates that impulsivity was higher among the elderly suicides. In addition, regression analyses show that impulsivity (odds ratio: 1.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.06) is an independent risk factor of suicide, after controlling for the effects of marital status, education, family annual income, being left behind, social support, and negative life events. Finally, compared with elderly who do not have a history of attempted suicide, elderly with a history of attempted suicide showed higher impulsivity (p = 0.001).


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Ross ◽  
Kairi Kõlves ◽  
Diego De Leo

Background: As young Australian males are at a high risk of suicide, the identification of risk factors other than psychopathology is vital for the development of comprehensive suicide prevention measures. Aims: The study investigated whether there were differences in risk factors and pathways to suicide in young adult males from Queensland, Australia, with and without a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Methods: A case–control, psychological autopsy method was applied using a control group of young males who had died suddenly from causes other than suicide. Results: Suicide cases without a psychiatric diagnosis more frequently displayed behaviours indicative of their suicidality (such as previous attempts, disposing of possessions and making statements of hopelessness) than controls without a diagnosis. Suicides without a diagnosis also displayed more ‘difficult’ personality traits, such as higher levels of neuroticism and aggression. They also experienced poorer quality of life and were significantly more likely than their controls to have experienced a recent separation from a spouse or partner. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the existence of several distinct characteristics of young males who die by suicide in the absence of any diagnosable psychiatric disorder.


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