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.

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]

References

  1. S2CID 27120844
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  2. PMID 16613936
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  3. PMID 20120408
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  4. S2CID 46253511
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  5. 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. PMID 16613936
    .
  8. ^ a b c Gaia Vince (14 April 2006). "Goth subculture may protect vulnerable children". New Scientist. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  9. ^ a b c "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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