Do I have something to be worried about? Researchers found that men who scored the lowest on IQ tests were two to three times more likely to commit suicide than men who scored the highest. (BMJ, January 22, 2005)

I cannot say enough about what a crap study this was. First of all, standard intelligence tests are not accurate measures of a person’s intelligence to begin with. Then considering the plethora of other possible confounders, it is hard to believe the researchers only took into account the employment status of the man’s parents and the duration of the parents’ education as proxies for socioeconomic status.

They did not have any information on the study participant’s other risk factors for suicide that might also correlate with the results of their IQ test, such as race (tests are often believed to be biased against ethnic minorities), education, drug or alcohol abuse, and other psychological or physical health problems.

The study also had no information on the study participants’ other suicide risk factors and how they compared between those who did and did not commit suicide.

    Risk Factors for Suicide

  • Previous suicide attempt
  • Mental health – particularly mood disorders such as depression
  • Combined mental health and substance abuse issues
  • Family history of suicide
  • Hopelessness/Helplessness
  • Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
  • Barriers to accessing mental health services
  • Loss (relationships, health, identity status)
  • Stressful Life event
  • Accessibility to lethal methods, especially guns
  • Unwillingness to seek help because of stigma attached to mental health issues and suicidal thoughts
  • Exposure to suicide (family, peers, significant others)
  • Physical, emotional and sexual abuse
  • Legal issues/arrests/incarceration
  • Sexual identity conflict

The researchers conclude that people with lower intelligence may have difficulties solving problems and that’s why when it comes to deciding whether to live or die, they decide to make it easy and just kill themselves. (I’m being facetious here.) Or, they suggest that maybe suicide-prone individuals have “childhood maladjustment” which made them perform poorly in school and thus would lead to lower IQ test scores.

Sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo purely designed to attract the attention of the media. Are they suggesting that we target people for suicide prevention who don’t seem as intelligent because they’re not good test takers? Better study up on the next test you take so that no one will think you’re a suicide risk.

Comments Off