Psychosomatic Medicine Tips for Better Browsing
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Phillips, D. P.
Right arrow Articles by Ruth, T. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Phillips, D. P.
Right arrow Articles by Ruth, T. E.

Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol 54, Issue 5 532-542, Copyright © 1992 by American Psychosomatic Society

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

The birthday: lifeline or deadline?

DP Phillips, CA Van Voorhees and TE Ruth
Sociology Department, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.

This study of deaths from natural causes examined adult mortality around the birthday for two samples, totalling 2,745,149 people. Women are more likely to die in the week following their birthdays than in any other week of the year. In addition, the frequency of female deaths dips below normal just before the birthday. The results do not seem to be due to seasonal fluctuations, misreporting on the death certificate, deferment of life-threatening surgery, or behavioral changes associated with the birthday. At present, the best available explanation of these findings is that females are able to prolong life briefly until they have reached a positive, symbolically meaningful occasion. Thus, the birthday seems to function as a 'lifeline' for some females. In contrast, male mortality peaks shortly before the birthday, suggesting that the birthday functions as a 'deadline' for males.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 JAMAHome page
D. C. Young and E. M. Hade
Holidays, Birthdays, and Postponement of Cancer Death
JAMA, December 22, 2004; 292(24): 3012 - 3016.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
K. E. Freedland and D. S. Sheps
Mini-Series on Timing of Death
Psychosom Med, May 1, 2004; 66(3): 372 - 372.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
G. Smith
Idler and Kasl's p Values: A Cautionary Lesson
Psychosom Med, May 1, 2004; 66(3): 373 - 375.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
E. L. Idler and S. Kasl
RESPONSE to: "Idler and Kasl's p Values: A Cautionary Lesson"
Psychosom Med, May 1, 2004; 66(3): 376 - 377.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
G. Smith
Asian-American Deaths Near the Harvest Moon Festival
Psychosom Med, May 1, 2004; 66(3): 378 - 381.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
J. A. Skala and K. E. Freedland
Death Takes a Raincheck
Psychosom Med, May 1, 2004; 66(3): 382 - 386.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NEJMHome page
D. P. Phillips, N. Christenfeld, and N. M. Ryan
An Increase in the Number of Deaths in the United States in the First Week of the Month -- An Association with Substance Abuse and Other Causes of Death
N. Engl. J. Med., July 8, 1999; 341(2): 93 - 98.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Research on AgingHome page
C. van Doorn
A Qualitative Approach to Studying Health Optimism, Realism, and Pessimism
Research on Aging, May 1, 1999; 21(3): 440 - 457.
[Abstract] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1992 by the American Psychosomatic Society