Book of Odds
Page 26
The odds an adult who has diagnosed bipolar disorder will not receive mental health services in a year: 1 in 2.3
SOURCE: PS Wang, M Land, M Olfson, HA Pincus, KB Wells, RC Kessler, “Twelve-Month Use of Mental Health Services in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication,” Archives of General Psychiatry 62, June 2005.
Suicide
A Sluggish Economy Takes a Toll
There were 263 workplace suicides in 2009—equalling the highest annual total ever recorded, set in 2008, when suicides in the workplace shot up 34% from the prior year’s 196. From 1992 through 2007, workplace suicides averaged 211 per year, and annual levels were within 15% lower and 9% higher of that average. An analysis of the 2008 data by Catherine Rampel, New York Times blogger, found that employees who killed themselves on the job tended to be male, 45–54, white, and in management occupations. Interestingly, while white workers accounted for 78% of suicides but only 69% of job hours, males and people age 45–54 who committed suicide tended to work less than the general population:
• Males accounted for 94% of suicides but only 57% of job hours.
• People age 45–54 accounted for 35% of suicides but only 25% of job hours.
SOURCES: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2009, revised data, May 4, 2011, http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfoi_revised09.pdf. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2008, revised data, April 22, 2010, http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfoi_revised08.pdf. C Rampel, “More on Workplace Suicides,” Economix blog, New York Times, August 31, 2009.
Racial/Ethnic Differences
The odds a person will commit suicide in a year: 1 in 7,521
White 1 in 8,259
American Indian or Native Alaskan 1 in 8,878
Asian or Pacific Islander 1 in 18,260
Black 1 in 19,450
Hispanic 1 in 19,620
SOURCES: Book of Odds estimate based on data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Compressed Mortality File 1999–2007, Series 20, No. 2M, 2010, CDC WONDER online database, http://wonder.cdc.gov/cmf-icd10.html. Book of Odds estimate based on data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Suicide Facts at a Glance 2012, and US Census Bureau, US Census 2012.
More suicides are committed on Monday than any other day of the week, 1 in 6.3, and the fewest on Saturday, 1 in 7.7.
SOURCE: Book of Odds estimate based on data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Compressed Mortality File 1999–2007, Series 20, No. 2M, 2010, CDC WONDER online database, http://wonder.cdc.gov/cmf-icd10.html.
Age and Suicide
The odds a person who committed suicide was:
5–9: 1 in 7,695
10–14: 1 in 125
15–19: 1 in 20.1
20–24: 1 in 12.7
25–34: 1 in 6.3
35–44: 1 in 4.8
45–54: 1 in 4.9
55–64: 1 in 8.3
65–74: 1 in 13.3
75–84: 1 in 14.6
85 or older: 1 in 38.6
SOURCE: Book of Odds estimate based on data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Compressed Mortality File 1999–2007, Series 20, No. 2M, 2010, CDC WONDER online database, http://wonder.cdc.gov/cmf-icd10.html.
The Suicide Rate Varies by State
Note: The overall US suicide rate is 11.5 per 100,000 and the 95% confidence interval for variation among the states is 11.0 per 100,000 to 12.0 per 100,000.
SOURCE: Book of Odds estimate based on data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Compressed Mortality File 1999–2007, Series 20, No. 2M, 2010, CDC WONDER online database, http://wonder.cdc.gov/cmf-icd10.html.
GENDER WARS
The odds a man will commit suicide in a year are 1 in 4,680 vs. 1 in 18,208 for a woman
SOURCE: Book of Odds estimate based on data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Suicide Facts at a Glance 2012, and US Census Bureau, US Census 2012.
GENDER WARS
The means used to commit suicide vary between the genders.
Men most frequently use guns. Women most often choose poison.
The odds a male suicide used a firearm are 1 in 1.8.
The odds a female suicide used poison are 1 in 2.7.
SOURCE: Book of Odds estimate based on data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Suicide Facts at a Glance 2012, and Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting Systems (WISQARS 2010 data), http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html.
Military Suicides:
Almost One a Day, Almost One an Hour
Military suicides have passed milestones of late—or perhaps headstones. A report released by the Pentagon revealed that the rate of suicide among members of the army from October 1, 2008, to September 30, 2009, exceeded the civilian rate for the first time since the Vietnam War. The rate for soldiers was approximately 20 per 100,000, compared to a demographically adjusted civilian rate of approximately 19 per 100,000. There were 160 active-duty suicides in this twelve-month period.
By 2012 there were 349 active-duty suicides, almost one a day, according to the US military.
What about veterans? This is a larger base, with twenty-three million veterans. The latest study by the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs reported that veterans were committing suicide at a rate of 22 a day, almost one an hour. These suicides are mostly among older people: the odds a veteran who commits suicide will be fifty or older are 1 in 1.5.
SOURCES: L Alvarez, “Suicides of Soldiers Reach High of Nearly 3 Decades,” New York Times, January 29, 2009. Book of Odds Estimate based on T Watkins, M Schneider, “325 Army Suicides in 2012 a Record,” CNN, and US Army, Deployment Health Assessment Program Update, Army Reserve Conference, September 20, 2012, Defense Manpower Data Center, August 17, 2012. J Kemp, R Bossarte, “Suicide Data Report, 2012,” Department of Veterans Affairs, Mental Health Services, Suicide Prevention Program Reuters, “US Military Suicides Rise, One Dies Every 65 Minutes,” February 1, 2013.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
About 60% of men and 50% of women will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime. A trauma is defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs as something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you whereby “you think that your life or others’ lives are in danger.” Traumatic events affecting women are most likely to be sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, while traumatic events affecting men are more likely to be accidents, physical assault, combat, disaster, or witnessing death or injury. Women who experience a traumatic event are more likely to develop PTSD—
1 in 5 vs. 1 in 12.5 for men.
It wasn’t until the Vietnam War—a conflict that left many veterans vulnerable to flashbacks, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, substance abuse, and/or other problems—that the therapeutic community formally recognized PTSD. Veterans experts think PTSD occurs:
• In about 30% of Vietnam veterans or 1 in 3.3.
• In about 10% of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans or 1 in 10.
• In about 6% to 11% of Afghanistan war (Enduring Freedom) veterans or 1 in 9 to 1 in 16.
• In about 12% to 20% of Iraq war (Iraqi Freedom) veterans or 1 in 5 to 1 in 8.
SOURCE: National Center for PTSD, US Department of Veterans Affairs, “How Common Is PTSD?,” http://ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_how_common_is_ptsd.html.
We’re All Stressed Out
ODDS COUPLE
Doing Damage
The odds a man will experience a traumatic event during his life: 1 in 1.7
The odds an NFL pass will be a completion: 1 in 1.7
SOURCES: National Center for PTSD, US Department of Vet
erans Affairs, “How Common Is PTSD?,” http://ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_how_common_is_ptsd.html. Book of Odds estimate based on Pro-Football-Reference.com, 2010 NFL Passing, http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/passing.htm.
ODDS COUPLE
Smoldering…
The odds an adult has intermittent explosive disorder: 1 in 24.4
These are about the same odds that a white man is a nondaily smoker (1 in 24).
SOURCES: Harvard School of Medicine, “National Comorbidity Survey (NCS-R) Appendix Tables,” July 19, 2007. JR Pleis, BW Ward, JW Lucas, “Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2009,” Vital and Health Statistics 10 (249), 2010.
Greatest Stress Factors
The odds an adult will report:
financial concerns are one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 1.9
needing to lose weight is one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 2.8
not being able to get through his or her to-do list is one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 4.4
job security is one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 4.6
demanding work requirements: one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 6.7
not having time for a break is one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 6.7
housework is one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 6.7
juggling family needs is one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 6.7
his or her relationship with a spouse or partner is one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 7.7
information overload is one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 14.3
the relationship with his or her children is one of the greatest stressors in his or her life: 1 in 16.7
SOURCE: Princess Cruises, “Chicago Tops List of America’s Most Stressed Out Cities; Miami Is Most Laid Back,” press release, October 21, 2009.
No Time to Turn Around
What People Would Like to Do,
if Only They Had the Time
The odds an adult will report he or she, in a typical week, would like to but does not have time to:
exercise: 1 in 4.2
volunteer: 1 in 4.2
work on hobbies: 1 in 4.4
take a break: 1 in 4.8
spend time with friends: 1 in 6.3
read: 1 in 9.1
be spiritual: 1 in 10
spend time with siblings: 1 in 11.1
garden: 1 in 12.5
spend more time with his or her parents: 1 in 14.3
work more: 1 in 14.3
cook: 1 in 20
spend more time with his or her children: 1 in 20
spend more time with his or her significant other: 1 in 25
watch more TV: 1 in 33.3
sleep more: 1 in 33.3
do more housework: 1 in 50
SOURCE: Princess Cruises, “Chicago Tops List of America’s Most Stressed Out Cities; Miami Is Most Laid Back,” press release, October 21, 2009.
One of These Days, I Will Find Peace
The odds an adult believes lack of support from his or her spouse, family, friends, or work prevents him or her from achieving a balanced life: 1 in 5.9
SOURCE: Princess Cruises, “Chicago Tops List of America’s Most Stressed Out Cities; Miami Is Most Laid Back,” press release, October 21, 2009.
When Adults Believe
They Will Achieve a Balanced Life
The odds an adult believes he or she:
will be able to achieve a balanced life when he or she becomes more financially successful: 1 in 2.5
will be able to achieve a balanced life when the economy improves: 1 in 2.8
will be able to achieve a balanced life when he or she retires: 1 in 6.7
will be able to achieve a balanced life when he or she switches jobs: 1 in 10
will be able to achieve a balanced life when his or her spouse gets a better job: 1 in 14.3
will be able to achieve a balanced life when his or her children grow up: 1 in 16.7
SOURCE: Princess Cruises, “Chicago Tops List of America’s Most Stressed Out Cities; Miami Is Most Laid Back,” press release, October 21, 2009.
The Odds an Adult Will Unwind at the End of the Day by:
Changing clothes: 1 in 2.8
Lying down: 1 in 2.9
Reading a book or magazine: 1 in 3.1
Kissing his or her spouse or partner: 1 in 3.1
Playing with a pet: 1 in 3.1
Going on Facebook: 1 in 3.5
Listening to or playing music: 1 in 3.6
Working on a hobby: 1 in 5.6
Exercising: 1 in 5.9
Enjoying an alcoholic beverage: 1 in 5.9
Reading the newspaper: 1 in 5.9
Discussing the day’s events: 1 in 6.7
Calling a friend: 1 in 7.7
Hugging his or her children: 1 in 7.7
SOURCE: Princess Cruises, “Chicago Tops List of America’s Most Stressed Out Cities; Miami Is Most Laid Back,” press release, October 21, 2009.
Crying Styles
by Gender
The folks who help you dry your tears with their tissues funded this study on how people describe their own crying styles. Whether we have only one “crying style” is open to debate. The British psychoanalyst John Bowlby proposed “Attachment Theory” in the last century. This theory views crying as a two-way act between people, such as mother and child or a married couple, a cry and response. The analogy to imprinting and bonding behaviors in animals is persuasive and suggests an evolutionary value to crying. Later theorists, such as Judith Kay Nelson, have posited multiple styles of crying and even refer to the fourth option in the survey as either “inhibited or prohibited” crying.
The odds a man will describe his crying as real sobbing and bawling are 1 in 33.3.
The odds a man will describe his crying as slight sobbing and shaking are 1 in 6.7.
The odds a man will describe his crying as red eyes and a couple of tears are 1 in 2.1.
The odds a man will describe his crying as getting a lump in his throat or welling up but no actual tears are 1 in 3.5.
The odds a woman will describe her crying as real sobbing and bawling are 1 in 14.3.
The odds a woman will describe her crying as slight sobbing and shaking are 1 in 2.9.
The odds a woman will describe her crying as red eyes and a couple of tears are 1 in 2.2.
The odds a woman will describe her crying as getting a lump in her throat or welling up but no actual tears are 1 in 11.1.
SOURCES: Social Issues Research Centre, The Kleenex for Men Crying Report: A Study of Men and Crying, September 30, 2004. JK Nelson, Seeing Through Tears: Crying and Attachment, New York: Brunner-Routledge, 2005. I Bretherton, “The Origins of Attachment Theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth,” Developmental Psychology 28(5), 1992: 159. J Bowlby, Attachment and Loss, vol. 1., Attachment, 2nd ed., New York: Basic Books, 1999.
Male Attitudes Toward Crying
The odds a man believes real men cry but only in response to tragedies like the death of a loved one: 1 in 2.5
The odds a man believes real men cry and aren’t afraid to show their emotions: 1 in 3.2
The odds a man believes real men cry but not in public: 1 in 3.4
The odds a man believes real men never cry: 1 in 20
SOURCE: AskMen.com, “Part II: Lifestyle,” The Great Male Survey, 2011 Edition, http://www.askmen.com/specials/2011_great_male_survey/.
GENDER WARS
1 in 1.7 men have never seen their fathers cry vs. 1 in 2 women.
SOURCE: Social Issues Research Centre, The Kleenex for Men Crying Report: A Study of Men and Crying, September 30, 2004.
Reasons for Crying
The odds a man has cried:
over the death of someone close: 1 in 1.4
over a sad moment in a movie, TV show, or book: 1 in 2.3
over the breakup of a relationship: 1 in 2.6
over someone close to him getting hurt: 1 in 4
over an argument with a loved one: 1 in 4.2
over feelings of loneliness: 1 in 4.6
over a happy moment in a movie, TV show, or book: 1 in 4.8
when listening to music: 1 in 5.6
out of self-pity: 1 in 5.9
over an injury: 1 in 6.3
over his feelings getting hurt: 1 in 7.7
over feelings of anger: 1 in 9.1
at a wedding: 1 in 11.1
The odds a woman has cried:
over the death of someone close: 1 in 1.1
over a sad moment in a movie, TV show, or book: 1 in 1.3
over the breakup of a relationship: 1 in 1.8
over someone close to her getting hurt: 1 in 1.7
over an argument with a loved one: 1 in 1.6
over feelings of loneliness: 1 in 2.2
over a happy moment in a movie, TV show, or book: 1 in 2.1
when listening to music: 1 in 3.2
out of self-pity: 1 in 2.9
over an injury: 1 in 2
over her feelings getting hurt: 1 in 2
over feelings of anger: 1 in 2.3
at a wedding: 1 in 2.5
SOURCE: Social Issues Research Centre, The Kleenex for Men Crying Report: A Study of Men and Crying, September 30, 2004.
BAD HABITS AND ADDICTION
Some Stress Relievers Are Bad for Us
Tobacco
The Age of Mad Men
The mid-1960s were the height of American smoking. In 1965, the peak year, 1 in 2 men smoked and 1 in 3 women smoked, more people per capita than at any other time in US history. Cigarette ads were everywhere: magazines, newspapers, television, even baseball cards.