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Economic Development and Gender Ratio Change in Chinese Suicide Rates (1990–2017)

Author

Listed:
  • Jie Zhang

    (School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
    Department of Sociology, State University of New York at Buffalo State, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Juncheng Lyu

    (School of Public Health, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Dorian A. Lamis

    (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30307, USA)

Abstract

Objective : The overall gender ratio in Chinese suicide rates has substantially changed during the past three decades. In this study, we investigated the social economic factors and the mechanisms that may be contributing to this fluctuation. Study Design : This is a secondary analysis using suicide mortality data from the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Methods : A statistical model was performed with province as the unit of analysis. The per capita GDP and income of each provincial-level region were collected from the Economic and Statistical Yearbook. Rate and ratio were used to describe the trend of variations, and correlation analyses were conducted to examine the association between economic development and gender ratio change. Results : The China overall male to female gender ratio of suicide rates increased as the GDP per capita grew (r = 0.439; p = 0.015). The gender ratio changed from 0.88 in 1990 to 1.56 in 2017, with the reversion point between 1995 and 2000. The most radical reverse changes in the gender ratios were found in large municipalities. Conclusions : Cultural and social economic variables may explain the gender ratio changes. Increased economic development has significantly reduced psychological strains on rural young women, which in turn decreased the suicide rate among this sub-population.

Suggested Citation

  • Jie Zhang & Juncheng Lyu & Dorian A. Lamis, 2022. "Economic Development and Gender Ratio Change in Chinese Suicide Rates (1990–2017)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-8, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:15606-:d:982746
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pak, Tae-Young & Choung, Youngjoo, 2020. "Relative deprivation and suicide risk in South Korea," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
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