Epidemic Suicide Among Micronesian Adolescents
Rubinstein, Donald H. (January 1983). "Epidemic Suicide Among Micronesian Adolescents". Social Science & Medicine. 17 (10): 657–665. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(83)90372-6. ISSN 0277-9536.
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Abstract: Explores the alarming pattern of suicides among adolescent males in Micronesia, primarily focusing on areas such as Truk (now Chuuk) and the Marshall Islands. This phenomenon appears to have started in the mid-1960s and saw a rapid increase over a decade, primarily affecting males aged 15-24.
The study analyzes this suicide epidemic within the broader frame of social and cultural changes. Major transformations in Micronesian society over the past few decades include a shift towards a cash economy, American-style education and healthcare, and the adoption of modern technology and consumer goods. These changes are most pronounced in district centers, which have seen rapid urbanization and are characterized by a predominance of wage labor, contrasting with the subsistence economies of the more traditional outer islands.
A key methodological approach of the research was extensive interviews with community members, families, and friends of those who died by suicide, offering a richer, more culturally contextual understanding of the suicides than official records alone. The data collected provide insights into typical characteristics of the suicides, such as age, sex, and social status, and hint at the episodic and impulsive nature of these acts.
The paper highlights cultural factors influencing this epidemic, noting that suicides often occur in the context of authority-dependency struggles between adolescent boys and their parents, with incidents sometimes described in highly figurative terms that point to underlying relational conflicts. Moreover, the research draws attention to the need for a conceptual model for understanding Micronesian childhood and adolescence, suggesting that structural tensions during socialization may influence suicidal behavior.
Extra details:
QID: Q47581558 PMID: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6879228 MAG: 2011989449 OpenAlex: W2011989449 CorpusID: 44748795
