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Blowin' in the Wind: Smog and Suicidal Ideation among School-Age Children

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Listed:
  • Zhang, Xin
  • Chen, Xi
  • Sun, Hong
  • Yang, Yuanjian

Abstract

This paper attempts to provide one of the first population-based causal estimates of the effect of air pollution on suicidal ideation-a key precursor to suicide attempt and completion-among school-age children. We use daily variations in the local wind direction as instruments to address endogeneity in pollution exposure. Matching a unique risk behavior survey of 55,000 students from 273 schools with comprehensive data on air pollutants and weather conditions according to the exact date and location of schooling, our findings indicate that a 1% decline in daily PM2.5 is associated with a 0.36% reduction in the probability of suicidal ideation. Moreover, the dose-response relationship reveals that the marginal effects increase significantly and non-linearly with elevated concentration of PM2.5. The effect is particularly pronounced among younger, male, students from low-educated families, and students with lower grades.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Xin & Chen, Xi & Sun, Hong & Yang, Yuanjian, 2025. "Blowin' in the Wind: Smog and Suicidal Ideation among School-Age Children," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1618, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:glodps:1618
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tatyana Deryugina & Garth Heutel & Nolan H. Miller & David Molitor & Julian Reif, 2019. "The Mortality and Medical Costs of Air Pollution: Evidence from Changes in Wind Direction," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(12), pages 4178-4219, December.
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    3. Sylvia Kämpfer & Michael Mutz, 2013. "On the Sunny Side of Life: Sunshine Effects on Life Satisfaction," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 110(2), pages 579-595, January.
    4. Mengyao Li & Susana Ferreira & Travis A. Smith & Xin Zhang, 2021. "Air pollution and noncognitive traits among Chinese adolescents," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 478-488, February.
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    6. Bayer, Patrick & Keohane, Nathaniel & Timmins, Christopher, 2009. "Migration and hedonic valuation: The case of air quality," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 58(1), pages 1-14, July.
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    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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