Lethal Locations: An Application of Opportunity Theory to Motel Suicide, a Research Note

Abstract

Location of suicide is a neglected area in suicidology, but is important because location is related to the presence of motivated rescuers who can prevent suicides. The present study analyzes the predictors of suicide in a location that is apt to be free of motivated rescuers: the motel room. Data from the files of a medical examiner in a Midwestern city included 1457 suicides, of which 27 took place in motel rooms. Predictor variables include demographic characteristics and psychosocial stressors associated with the suicides. An exploratory multivariate logistic regression model found four independent predictors of motel suicide. Conditions elevating the odds of motel room suicide were divorce (odds ratio = 6.0), out of county residence (OR = 14.4), hanging as a suicide method (OR = 3.0), and substance abuse (OR = 2.6). The model explained 24% of the variance in location of suicide. Opportunity theory is utilized to explain why location influences the probability of a suicide.

We thank Dr. Carl Schmidt of the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office for expediting the availability of the data used in the present study.

Notes

Notes. Variable reference categories are noted with (1.00). − 2 Log Likelihood = 209.775, p < .05. R² (nagelkerke) = .236.

∗∗p < .01; ∗p < .05.