Self harm in Goth youth subculture: Conclusion relates only to small sample
BMJ 2006; 332 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.332.7551.1216 (Published 18 May 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;332:1216
- Mark Taubert (mtaubert{at}hotmail.com), senior house officer in palliative medicine,
- Jothy Kandasamy, specialist registrar in neurosurgery
- Holme Tower Marie Curie Hospital, Cardiff CF64 3YR
- Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool L9 7LJ
EDITOR—Young et al claim to find a strong association between Goth subculture and deliberate selfharm before and after adjusting for confounders.1 Importantly, they do not distinguish that the Goth subculture is not easily defined or categorised, spans several continents, and has evolved to include a wide range of musical and clothing styles. This contemporaneously includes Mallgoths in the United States, Gogans in Australia, Dark in Latin America, Cuervos in Spain, and Spooky Kids and Neogoths in the United Kingdom.2 3 Young et al should have made it clear in their discussion that any conclusion only relates to a small sample of gothic youth in the central Clydeside conurbation. One cannot assume that Goth youths' subcultural trends, icons, and ideals would be similar in other geosocial regions.
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Competing interests None declared.