Popular Misconceptions about Suicide: How Popular are they?

Abstract

This study explores the prevalence of misconceptions about suicide in a sample of 643 United States residents who were administered the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ). Responses to the twenty SOQ items concerning various misconceptions were analyzed for percentage of endorsement and differential endorsement as related to gender, age, and ethnic background. The results indicate that misconceptions about suicide are not as prevalent as suggested by the literature; that significant differences exist among groups differing in age and ethnic background, but not in gender; and that several misconceptions may in fact not be misconceptions.