Self-esteem and Suicide Rates in 55 Nations ARMAND CHATARD * , LEILA SELIMBEGOVIC ´ and PAUL N’DRI KONAN University of Geneva, Switzerland Abstract Using recent data from the International Sexuality Description Project (ISDP), we examined whether national differences in self-esteem across 55 nations are reflected in suicide rates. Results indicate that suicide is especially common in nations with relatively low levels of self-esteem. This relation is consistent across sex lines, age of suicide and independent from several other relevant factors such as economic affluence, transition, individualism, subjective well-being, and neuroticism. These findings provide support for the predictive validity of self-esteem scores as assessed in the ISDP survey. They also contribute to a growing body of research documenting negative consequences associated with low self-esteem. Possible implications for suicide prevention strategies are discussed. Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key words: suicide; self-esteem; national differences; economic affluence; transition; individualism; subjective well-being; neuroticism; prevention INTRODUCTION Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide. Yet, there are considerable variations in national suicide rates (World Health Organization, 1996). Traditionally, suicide rates are higher in nations with higher levels of economic development and quality of life (e.g. Lester, 1996). Since the communist collapse, they are also especially high in eastern European transition nations such as Lithuania, Slovenia, Latvia, and Estonia (e.g. Baudelot & Establet, 2006). Taking advantage of a recent survey investigating self- esteem across a wide range of nations (the International Sexuality Description Project, ISDP, Schmitt & Allik, 2005), the present ecological study attempts to examine whether it is associated with national differences in suicide rates over and above the effects of other economic (e.g. GDP), historical (e.g. transition) and cultural (e.g. individualism) factors. The current paper is focused on self-esteem because it appears as an important risk factor for suicide ideation and suicide attempts in a number of longitudinal studies conducted at European Journal of Personality Eur. J. Pers. 23: 19–32 (2009) Published online 20 November 2008 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI: 10.1002/per.701 *Correspondence to: Armand Chatard, Faculte ´ de Psychologie (FAPSE), Universite ´ de Gene `ve, Uni Mail, 40 Bd du Pont d’Arve, CH-1205 Gene `ve, Suisse. E-mail: Armand.Chatard@pse.unige.ch Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Received 19 May 2008 Revised 8 October 2008 Accepted 14 October 2008