The Perceived Significance of Suicide in Male vs. Female Breadwinners

Abstract

This study sets out to investigate the perceived significance of male and female suicide as viewed by a third party member/member of the public. Specifically it investigates if differences exist in perceived significance of a male or female suicide when the suicide is the breadwinner for the household. This could hold implications in providing care to bereaved individuals who have experienced a suicide. The participants in this study were 150 students from an introductory psychology course who received classroom credit for their participation. Participants took part in an online survey in which they completed the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS-X), completed demographic questions, read a vignette about a family who experiences a suicide, followed by a reevaluation of the PANAS-X scale. Conditions were manipulated between a John (male breadwinner suicide) condition and a Jennifer (female breadwinner suicide) condition. It is expected that participants are more likely to view the male suicide as more significant, or having more emotional change, while the female suicide will have less emotional change. This is based on the idea that the male suicide is violating less gender roles (i.e. being a strong foundation for the family) than the female suicide (i.e. accepting the breadwinner role and being a strong foundation for the family). Regardless of if the hypothesis is affirmed or denied, this study contributes knowledge about potential differences and similarities in public perception of a male and female suicide when the suicide is designated as the main source of income for the home.