Suicide in music subcultures

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.

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 the 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]

References

  1. Stack, S; Gundlach, J; Reeves, JL (1994). "The heavy metal subculture and suicide.". Suicide & life-threatening behavior 24 (1): 15–23. PMID 8203005.
  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.
  5. "Prevalence of deliberate self harm and attempted suicide within contemporary Goth youth subculture: longitudinal cohort study". BMJ. 13 April 2006. 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. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  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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