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Unemployment and suicide during and after a deep recession: A longitudinal study of 3.4 million swedish men and women

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  • Garcy, A.M.
  • Vagerö, D.

Abstract

Objectives. We tested 2 hypotheses found in studies of the relationship between suicide and unemployment: causal (stress and adversity) and selective interpretation (previous poor health). Methods. We estimated Cox models for adults (n = 3 424 550) born between 1931 and 1965. We examined mortality during the recession (1993-1996), postrecession (1997-2002), and a combined follow-up. Models controlled for previous medical problems, and social, family, and employer characteristics. Results. During the recession there was no excess hazard of mortality from suicide or events of undetermined intent. Postrecession, there was an excess hazard of suicide mortality for unemployed men but not unemployed women. However, for unemployed women with no health-problem history there was a modest hazard of suicide. Finally, there was elevated mortality from events of undetermined intent for unemployed men and women postrecession. Conclusions. A small part of the relationship may be related to health selection, more so during the recession. However, postrecessionary period findings suggest that much of the association could be causal. A narrow focus on suicide mortality may understate the mortality effects of unemployment in Sweden.

Suggested Citation

  • Garcy, A.M. & Vagerö, D., 2013. "Unemployment and suicide during and after a deep recession: A longitudinal study of 3.4 million swedish men and women," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(6), pages 1031-1038.
  • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301210_5
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301210
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    Cited by:

    1. Woorim Kim & Myung Ki & Minjae Choi & Areum Song, 2019. "Comparable Risk of Suicidal Ideation between Workers at Precarious Employment and Unemployment: Data from the Korean Welfare Panel Study, 2012–2017," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-10, August.
    2. Kanamori, Mariko & Kondo, Naoki & Juarez, Sol & Dunlavy, Andrea & Cederström, Agneta & Rostila, Mikael, 2020. "Rural life and suicide: Does the effect of the community context vary by country of birth? A Swedish registry-based multilevel cohort study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    3. Richardson, Cara & Robb, Kathryn A. & O'Connor, Rory C., 2021. "A systematic review of suicidal behaviour in men: A narrative synthesis of risk factors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    4. Lorena Cecilia López Steinmetz & Romina Lucrecia López Steinmetz & Juan Carlos Godoy, 2020. "Is unemployment less important than expected for suicide attempted in developing regions? Occupational profile of suicide attempts in Jujuy, north westernmost Argentina," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(1), pages 67-75, February.

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