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Goth Youths Prone to Suicide Attempts and Self-Mutilation

Discussion in '2006 Archive' started by Ben W, Apr 16, 2006.

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  1. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
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    - By Jeff Minerd, MedPage Today Staff Writer
    April 14, 2006

    Review
    GLASGOW, Scotland, April 14 - The rate of suicide attempts and self-mutilation-is high among those in the Goth youth subculture, researchers here reported.

    More than half of 19-year-olds who self-identified as Goth reported self-harming behavior, and nearly half reported a suicide attempt, said Robert Young, a research associate at the University of Glasgow.

    But whether participation in Goth culture leads to self-destructive behavior or whether adolescents with those tendencies gravitate to Goth is not clear, Young and colleagues said online today in BMJ, formerly the British Medical Journal.

    Goth is a subgenre of punk culture characterized by "a dark and sinister aesthetic, with aficionados conspicuous by their range of distinctive clothing and makeup and tastes in music," the investigators said. There is a Goth subculture in the U.S., reportedly inspired by fantasy games such as Dungeons and Dragon.

    Self-harming behavior is "a maladaptive coping strategy intended to relieve negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, frustration, or guilt," the investigators said. "It is usually unrelated to an immediate suicide attempt."

    The researchers surveyed 1,258 young people during their final year of primary school (age 11) and again at ages 13, 15, and 19. The study participants were asked about self-harm and identification with a variety of youth subcultures.

    The study found that belonging to the Goth subculture was strongly associated with a lifetime prevalence of self harm (53%) and attempted suicide (47%). For comparison, the rate of self-harming behavior among the general youth population in the United Kingdom is 7% to 14%, and the rate of suicide attempts is about 6%, the authors said.

    Furthermore, identifying oneself as Goth was associated with a 14-fold increase in risk for self harming behavior (odds ratio=14.16; 95% confidence interval=4.42-45.39) and a 16-fold increase in risk for suicide attempt (OR=16.37; 95% CI=4.93-54.35) compared with non-Goth youth, the study found.

    http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Parenting/tb/3098
     
    #1 Ben W, Apr 16, 2006
  2. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    Now that one is a real shocker.

    :rolleyes:

    Joseph Botwinick
     
    #2 Joseph_Botwinick, Apr 16, 2006
  3. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    Agreed, Mr. Botwinick.

    My first thought was this: "This just in..water is wet."
     
    #3 StefanM, Apr 16, 2006
  4. The Galatian

    The Galatian New Member

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    Goths tend to avoid Dungeons and Dragons, as the game is skewed toward the good guys, and toward humans.

    Not dark enough. There are others, more sinister in theme, that suit them much better.

    One thing I've noticed about them in middle school; they tend to be rather nice people, if you can get past the way they look.

    Never had a problem with one of them being disrespectful or disruptive, although they often got in trouble for not doing homework and for dress code violations.

    The worst case we had was one kiddo who bit another goth pretending to be a vampire. He also tried wearing a leather skirt to school, arguing that it was a "unipant." Didn't have much luck with that one, either.
     
    #4 The Galatian, Apr 16, 2006
  5. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    Agree with the Galatian. This has also been my experience. They tend to be very artistic. But, since they seem to have a obsession with death, darkness, and bodily mutilation (in my experience), it is not a surprise to me that they tend to have a higher suicide rate. The ones I have met are mostly loners or those who relate only to other goths. They don't try to hurt others, but they certainly live self destructive lifestyles, IMO.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
    #5 Joseph_Botwinick, Apr 16, 2006
  6. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    Depressed kids are attracted to Goth culture - as a culture of outcasts and outsiders - this way they can belong.
     
    #6 Daisy, Apr 16, 2006
  7. Kilad

    Kilad New Member

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    We have several Goth teens who post on my poetry website. I am happy to say that we have had a few conversions to Christianity from that group. The change in them and their poetry is amazing and I praise God for it.
     
    #7 Kilad, Apr 16, 2006
  8. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    There's a lot of young people, primary girls, who are "cutters" who have nothing to do with the Goth culture.

    And I really don't believe that Goth young people are inspired by Dungeons and Dragons. That fact that was "reportedly" stated, I believe, is wrong.
     
    #8 Scarlett O., Apr 16, 2006
  9. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    I'd question the D&D connection as well.

    In my experience, the people who play D&D are more "nerds" than "goths."
     
    #9 StefanM, Apr 16, 2006
  10. The Galatian

    The Galatian New Member

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    The good thing is that Goths are generally good-hearted and idealistic, and so are potentially open to hearing the Good News.

    I'm not surprised that you have seen some of them convert. I think the weirdness is a call for help.

    D&D is not a Goth thing. But there are much darker role-playing games.
     
    #10 The Galatian, Apr 17, 2006
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