Suicide in music subcultures

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Suicide in music subcultures refers to the relationship between members of a subculture of music fans and the act of suicide. Researchers have examined the relationship between heavy metal subculture, [1] goth subculture, [2] emo subculture, [3] and opera subculture [4] and suicide.

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Goth subculture

A study published on the British Medical Journal concluded that "identification as belonging to the Goth subculture [at some point in their lives] was the best predictor of self harm and attempted suicide [among young teens]", and that it was most possibly due to a selection mechanism (persons that wanted to harm themselves later identified as goths, thus raising the percentage of those persons who identify as goths). [5] According to The Guardian, some goth teens are at more likely to harm themselves or attempt suicide. A medical journal study of 1,300 Scottish schoolchildren until their teen years found that 53% of the goth teens had attempted to harm themselves and 47% had attempted suicide. The study found that the "correlation was stronger than any other predictor." [6] The study was based on a sample of 15 teenagers who identified as goths, of which 8 had self-harmed by any method, 7 had self-harmed by cutting, scratching or scoring, and 7 had attempted suicide. [7] [8] [9]

The authors held that most self-harm by teens was done before joining the subculture, and that joining the subculture would actually protect them and help them deal with distress in their lives. [8] [9] The authors insisted on the study being based on small numbers and on the need of replication to confirm the results. [8] [9] The study was criticized for using only a small sample of goth teens and not taking into account other influences and differences between types of goths ; by taking a study from a larger number of people. [10]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Stack, S; Gundlach, J; Reeves, JL (1994). "The heavy metal subculture and suicide". Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. 24 (1): 15–23. doi:10.1111/j.1943-278X.1994.tb00659.x. PMID   8203005. S2CID   27120844.
  2. ↑ Young, R. (2006). "Prevalence of deliberate self harm and attempted suicide within contemporary Goth youth subculture: longitudinal cohort study". BMJ. 332 (7549): 1058–1061. doi:10.1136/bmj.38790.495544.7C. ISSN   0959-8138. PMC   1458563 . PMID   16613936.
  3. ↑ Definis-Gojanović, M; Gugić, D; Sutlović, D (December 2009). "Suicide and Emo youth subculture--a case analysis". Collegium Antropologicum. 33 (Suppl 2): 173–5. PMID   20120408.
  4. ↑ Stack, Steven (2002). "Opera Subculture and Suicide for Honor". Death Studies. 26 (5): 431–437. doi:10.1080/07481180290086763. ISSN   0748-1187. PMID   12046619. S2CID   46253511.
  5. ↑ Young, Robert; Sweeting, Helen; West, Patrick (13 April 2006). "Prevalence of deliberate self harm and attempted suicide within contemporary Goth youth subculture: longitudinal cohort study". BMJ. 332 (7549): 1058–1061. doi:10.1136/bmj.38790.495544.7C. PMC   1458563 . PMID   16613936 . Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  6. ↑ Polly Curtis and John Carvel. "Teen goths more prone to suicide, study shows." The Guardian, Friday 14 April 2006
  7. ↑ Robert Young; Helen Sweeting; Patrick West (4 May 2006). "Prevalence of deliberate self harm and attempted suicide within contemporary Goth youth subculture: longitudinal cohort study". British Medical Journal . 332 (7549): 1058–1061. doi:10.1136/bmj.38790.495544.7C. PMC   1458563 . PMID   16613936.
  8. 1 2 3 Gaia Vince (14 April 2006). "Goth subculture may protect vulnerable children". New Scientist . Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  9. 1 2 3 "Goths 'more likely to self-harm'". BBC . 13 April 2006. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  10. ↑ Sources: This most likely meant that, according to the survey, there was more of a stereotype towards goths that they did practice self-harming. Some would argue that it is a very unfair stereotype to place upon goths, as the vast majority of the goth subculture is against even the thought of practicing self-harm and is strongly against it.
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