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Seasonal Differences in the Day-of-the-Week Pattern of Suicide in Queensland, Australia

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  • Chi-kin Law

    (Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Mt Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, Queensland 4122, Australia)

  • Diego De Leo

    (Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Mt Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, Queensland 4122, Australia)

Abstract

Various temporal patterns of suicide events, according to time of day, day of week, month and season, have been identified. However, whether different dimensions of time interact has not been investigated. Using suicide data from Queensland, Australia, this study aims to verify if there is an interaction effect between seasonal and day-of-the-week distribution. Computerized suicide data from the Queensland Suicide Register for those aged 15+ years were analyzed according to date of death, age, sex and geographic location for the period 1996–2007. To examine seasonal differences in day-of-the-week pattern of suicide, Poisson regressions were used. A total of 6,555 suicides were recorded over the whole study period. Regardless of the season, male residents of Brisbane had a significantly marked day-of-the-week pattern of suicide, with higher rates between Mondays and Thursdays. When seasonal differences were considered, male residents in Brisbane showed a Monday peak in summer and a wave-shape pattern with a peak on Thursday and a nadir on Saturdays in winter. Whilst males have distinctive peaks in terms of days of the week for summer and winter, females do not show similar patterns.

Suggested Citation

  • Chi-kin Law & Diego De Leo, 2013. "Seasonal Differences in the Day-of-the-Week Pattern of Suicide in Queensland, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-9, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:10:y:2013:i:7:p:2825-2833:d:27006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ajdacic-Gross, Vladeta & Wang, Jen & Bopp, Matthias & Eich, Dominique & Rössler, Wulf & Gutzwiller, Felix, 2003. "Are seasonalities in suicide dependent on suicide methods? A reappraisal," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(7), pages 1173-1181, October.
    2. Phillips, D.P. & Sanzone, A.G., 1988. "A comparison of injury date and death date in 42,698 suicides," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 78(5), pages 541-543.
    3. Massing, Walter & Angermeyer, Matthias C., 1985. "The monthly and weekly distribution of suicide," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 433-441, January.
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