SUICIDE IN THE WORLD: TOWARD A POPULATION INCREASE THEORY OF SUICIDE

Abstract

Using recently obtained suicide rates and economic development indicators for 60 countries , this study investigates the effects of modernization on suicide throughout the world . Results support the hypothesis that high suicide rates are related to modernization but with revisions . Although suicide is negatively correlated with population growth indicators and positively correlated with quality of life indicators , in multiple regression analyses with all other factors controlled , the population growth factor is a much better predictor of suicide rates than the quality of life factor . This finding holds true for both developing and developed countries when the two subsamples were tested separately . The population increase theory of suicide is highlighted as an explanation of suicide rates in the world , and ramifications of the theory are discussed .