Black Suicide in U.S. Metropolitan Areas: An Examination of the Racial Inequality and Social Integration-Regulation Hypotheses

• NCJ Number: 177803
• Journal: Social Forces Volume: 77 Issue: 3 Dated: March 1999 Pages: 1049-1080
• Author(s): Jeffrey A. Burr; John T. Hartman; Donald W. Matteson
• Date Published: March 1999
• Length: 32 pages
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Suicides among black males in metropolitan areas in 1980 were examined to test the social integration-regulation and racial inequality hypotheses as they pertain to black suicide risk.

Abstract

The research focused on three specific hypotheses: (1) higher levels of traditional social support lead to lower risks of suicide (family and religion integration-regulation thesis); (2a) higher levels of socioeconomic standing lead to higher risks of suicide versus (2b) higher levels of socioeconomic standing lead to lower risks of suicide (social hierarchy thesis); and (3) higher levels of racial inequality between black persons and white persons lead to higher risks of suicide (racial inequality thesis). The study focused on suicide events for black males 15 years old and older, as well as suicide events for young black males ages 15-24 years. The data were analyzed by means of negative binomial regression techniques. Results revealed that the risk of black male suicide is higher in areas where occupational income inequalities between black persons and white persons are greater. Results also revealed detrimental effects associated with marital disruption and certain types of family living arrangements. Findings suggested the desirability of future research on several aspects of these relationships. Tables; notes; appended methodological information, tables, and figures; and 99 references (Author abstract modified)