Off-campus UMass Amherst users: To download campus access theses, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your UMass Amherst user name and password.

Non-UMass Amherst users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this thesis through interlibrary loan.

Theses that have an embargo placed on them will not be available to anyone until the embargo expires.

Access Type

Open Access

Document Type

thesis

Degree Program

Public Health

Degree Type

Master of Science (M.S.)

Year Degree Awarded

2013

Month Degree Awarded

May

Keywords

Epidemiology, Public Health, Suicide, Alaskan Native, Seasonal Variation, Vitamin D

Abstract

Background: Suicide rates among Alaska Natives in rural Alaska are almost 16 times higher than the national average. Some studies in northern latitudes have shown seasonal variation among suicide rates, with differences in patterns by age and sex, reasons for this variation and contributing factors are unclear. We modeled our hypotheses based on the assumption that vitamin D deficiency influences seasonal variation of suicide. We assessed the relationship between age, sex and seasonal variation of suicidal behavior in a rural region of Alaska. Methods: We utilized data from 804 individuals who exhibited lethal and nonlethal suicidal behavior (1990-2009). Information on age, sex, and potential contributing factors were recorded via a case report. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify the association between age, sex, and seasonality of suicide. Results: Among women, we observed a significant 41% increase in odds during season two compared to season one (OR=1.41, CI=1.06, 1.90); women had a significant 48% increase in odds during season two using data collected between 2002-2009 (OR=1.48, CI=1.04, 2.11). We did not observe any significant findings of seasonality with respects to age. The observed seasonal variation of suicide did not support vitamin D deficiency as an underlying cause, as increased incidence of suicide continued into the summer months when vitamin D deficiency would be less prevalent. Conclusion: We observed evidence of seasonal variation of suicidal acts by sex. Future studies of physiologic mechanisms influencing seasonality of suicide are important to target those at highest risk throughout the year.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/3615880

First Advisor

Elizabeth R. Bertone-Johnson

Second Advisor

Lisa Wexler

Included in

Epidemiology Commons

COinS