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Socioeconomic deprivation and suicide in Appalachia: The use of three socioeconomic deprivation indices to explain county-level suicide rates

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  • Erin D Caswell
  • Summer D Hartley
  • Caroline P Groth
  • Mary Christensen
  • Ruchi Bhandari

Abstract

Objective: West Virginia’s (WV) suicide rate is 50% higher than the national average and is the highest in the Appalachian Region. Appalachia has several social factors that have contributed to greater socioeconomic deprivation, a known contributor of suicide. Given WV’s high prevalence of suicide and poverty, the current study aims to examine the relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and suicide rates in WV. Methods: The Townsend Deprivation Index (TDI), Social Deprivation Index (SDI), and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) measured socioeconomic deprivation. Negative binomial regression models assessed the relationship between socioeconomic deprivation scores, individual index items, and suicide rates. Model comparisons evaluated the indices’ ability to assess suicide rates. A backward selection strategy identified additional key items for examining suicide rates. Results: There was a significant increase in suicide rates for every 10% increase in TDI (β = 0.04; p

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  • Erin D Caswell & Summer D Hartley & Caroline P Groth & Mary Christensen & Ruchi Bhandari, 2024. "Socioeconomic deprivation and suicide in Appalachia: The use of three socioeconomic deprivation indices to explain county-level suicide rates," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(11), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0312373
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312373
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Antonio Rodriguez Andres, 2005. "Income inequality, unemployment, and suicide: a panel data analysis of 15 European countries," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(4), pages 439-451.
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