Psychiatry Research
Volume 112, Issue 1 , Pages 89-92, 15 September 2002

Birth month and suicidal and depressive symptoms in Australians born in the Southern vs. the Northern hemisphere

  • Thomas E Joiner Jr.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1270, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1-850-644-1454; fax: +1-850-644-7739
    • ,
  • Jon J Pfaff

      Affiliations

    • National General Practice Youth Suicide Prevention Project, Perth, Australia
    • ,
  • John G Acres

      Affiliations

    • Health Services Group, Perth, Australia
    • ,
  • Frank Johnson

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1270, USA

Received 28 March 2002; received in revised form 18 June 2002; accepted 25 July 2002.

Abstract 

To test whether Australians in utero during the Southern hemisphere flu peak would show increased suicidal and depressive symptoms, as would those born in the Northern hemisphere and who were in utero during the Northern hemisphere flu peak. A sample of 2514 adolescents and young adults presenting to general practitioners completed measures of depressive and suicidal symptoms. Patients’ date and country of birth were recorded. Those born in the Southern hemisphere in September–November showed the highest suicidal and depressive symptoms, as did those born in the Northern hemisphere in March–May. Season of birth may be a risk factor for depressive and suicidal symptoms.

Keywords:  Season of birth, Influenza, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Depressive Symptom Inventory-Suicidality Subscale

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PII: S0165-1781(02)00183-X

Psychiatry Research
Volume 112, Issue 1 , Pages 89-92, 15 September 2002

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