Combined Effects of Working Hours, Income, and Leisure Time on Suicide in All 47 Prefectures of Japan

Abstract

This study describes an ecological study that evaluated the combined effects of working hours, income, and leisure time on suicide in all 47 prefectures of Japan. In men, the age-adjusted rate of suicide (per 100,000 population) was significantly correlated with working hours (r=0.587, p<0.0001) as well as significantly and negatively correlated with income (r=−0.517, p=0.0002) and times for the leisure activities of self-education (r=−0.447, p=0.0016) and hobbies (r=−0.511, p=0.0002). In addition, a stepwise multiple regression analysis identified time for leisure social activities as a determining factor in suicide rate, even after adjusting for working hours and income. However, the impact of time for leisure social activities on suicide rate was smaller than that of working hours and income. In contrast, none of these factors affected suicide rate in women. These results suggest that increasing leisure time may be useful for preventing suicide among men in Japan.

Social and Economic Variables Related with Paraquat Self-Poisoning: an Ecological Study

“…These findings are highly consistent with previous reports in suicide for all causes, especially reported from developed countries [6][7][8]25]. According to a systematic review, poverty, particularly in the form of worse economic status, diminished wealth, and unemployment is associated with suicidal ideations and behaviors [26].…”

“…Suicidal behavior is a multifactorial event with diverse biological (e.g., sex, age, mental disorders, genetic loading, normal physical conditions, etc.) and sociocultural (e.g., unemployment, low income, lack of social support networks, ethnicity) determinants [5][6][7][8]. Most of these sociocultural determinants can be found in rural areas in developing nations [9].…”

Social and Economic Variables Related with Paraquat Self-Poisoning: an Ecological Study

“…These findings are highly consistent with previous reports in suicide for all causes, especially reported from developed countries [6][7][8]24]. According to a systematic review, poverty, particularly in the form of worse economic status, diminished wealth, and unemployment is associated with suicidal ideations and behaviors [25].…”

Work to live, to die, or to be happy?

“…Besides this, combination of long working hours with poor sleep may develop poor mental health10 ) and even increase the chance of committing suicides (Karo-jisatsu) and death from overwork (Karoshi)11 ) . What we should focus on is to balance between work, sleep/resting, and leisure time, and creating meaningful and challenging work.…”