Can Media Effects Counteract Legislation Reforms? The Case of Adolescent Firearm Suicides in the Wake of the Austrian Firearm Legislation

Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, Benedikt Till, Arno Herberth, Nestor D. Kapusta, Martin Voracek, Kanita Dervic, Elmar Etzersdorfer, Gernot Sonneck

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To assess the impact of the Austrian firearm legislation (1997) on adolescent suicides, we investigated time trends in youth suicide prevalence (1986-2006) with Poisson regression. A temporary increase in firearm suicides after the reform was observed, followed by a continuous decrease. The hypothesis that media reporting triggered the short-term backlash effect is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)90-93
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Adolescent Health
Volume44
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Austria
  • Europe
  • Firearms
  • Health promotion
  • Imitation
  • Legislation
  • Media
  • Public health
  • Suicide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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