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

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.05.010

Can media effects counteract legislation reforms? The case of adolescent firearm suicides in the wake of the Austrian firearm legislation

J Adolesc Health. 2009 Jan;44(1):90-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.05.010. Epub 2008 Oct 18.

Authors

Thomas Niederkrotenthaler¹, Benedikt Till, Arno Herberth, Nestor D Kapusta, Martin Voracek, Kanita Dervic, Elmar Etzersdorfer, Gernot Sonneck

Affiliation

¹ Department of Medical Psychology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. thomas.niederkrotenthaler@meduniwien.ac.at

PMID: 19101465
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.05.010

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.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Austria / epidemiology
Child
Firearms / legislation & jurisprudence*
Humans
Mass Media*
Poisson Distribution
Prevalence
Regression Analysis
Suicide / statistics & numerical data*
Suicide / trends
Wounds, Gunshot / epidemiology
Wounds, Gunshot / prevention & control*
Young Adult