Social integration and suicide mortality among men: 24-year cohort study of U.S. health professionals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Suicide is a major public health problem. Current thinking about suicide emphasizes the study of psychiatric, psychological, or biological determinants. Previous work in this area has largely relied on surrogate outcomes or samples enriched for psychiatric morbidity.

Objective

To evaluate the relationship between social integration and suicide mortality.

Design

Prospective cohort study initiated in 1988.

Setting

United States.

Participants

34,901 men aged 40 to 75 years.

Measurements

Social integration was measured with a 7-item index that included marital status, social network size, frequency of contact, religious participation, and participation in other social groups. Vital status of study participants was ascertained through 1 Febr

SUBMITTER: Tsai AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4137390 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature