Geophysical variables and behavior: XLI. Regional variation of suicide and homicide rates by different methods.

Abstract

Lester (1980) reported that the suicide rates were higher for the states in the west, but there was no north-south variation. Homicide rates were higher in the south, but there was no east-west variation. Using the same methodology as that of the earlier paper (in which the latitude and longitude of the state capital were used as the measures for each stare), this report describes the variation of suicide and homicide races by each method by both latitude and longitude for the 48 continental states in 1960, using data from the Vital and Health Statistics of the United States, 1960 (National Center for Health Statistics, 1963). Suicide rates by hanging and by other methods were higher in the north (Pearson rs = 0.62 and 0.41), while suicide rates by poisons and by firearms were higher in the west (rs = 0.45 and 0.49). In contrast, homicide rates by firearms, by cutting and by other methods were all higher in the south (rs = -0.84, -0.69, and -0.39) and did not vary from east to west. For purposes of comparison, accidental death rates were also studied. Accidental death rates by poisons, by fires and by drowning were higher in the south (rs = -0.40, -0.58, and -0.47), while the accidental death rate by falls was higher in the north (r = 0.58). Accidental death rates from drowning and firearms were higher in the west (7s = 0.38 and 0.45). The variation in suicide and homicide rates by laritude and longitude is associated with methods chosen for death.