Is there a link between country music and suicide? Apparently so.
I know this is old news - in fact this research won the "Ig Nobel" prize last year (the best of this year's winners involves exploding trousers), but this is the first I've heard of it.
Some researchers found that the prevalence of country music could explain 51% of the variance of white suicide rates between radio markets. The researchers posit that this variance is caused by those who already have suicidal tendencies getting more despondent after listening to depressing themes in country music (wife left, lost job, dog got run over, etc.)
OK, fine. But what really gets me is that within their sample, the researchers controlled for "southerness". What?
The effect is independent of divorce, southernness, poverty, and gun availability. The existence of a country music subculture is thought to reinforce the link between country music and suicide. Our model explains 51% of the variance in urban white suicide rates.
What are the particular markers of "southerness" that they controlled for?
Anyway, this doesn't worry me. I'm a gal who smokes despite big warnings on the pack that say "THIS WILL KILL YOU". I will still listen to country music. No one can stop me.
Though I may be safe, because I'm not a member of the country music subculture. No siree, I'm a member of the country music counter-culture! Yee-haw.
Hat tip to my pal St. Caffeine, whom I've shamelessly ripped off, again.
2 comments:
Yeah, I didn't expect you'd be "cowed" by such a finding. Sort of on the topic of country music and such ...
Well, I'll just send that to you via email. Curious now?
You have a very one sided argument. But intelligent folks will see through your crap. That why you have such a "following" with your blog. Just random passer by in cyber-space.
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