Does Unstable Employment Have an Association with Suicide Rates among the Young?

Abstract

Although a growing body of literature has indicated that unemployment has a positive association with suicide, the dynamic aspects of unstable employment have not yet been considered in suicidology. This study explored the association between employment stability and completed suicide among people aged 25–34 years in 20 OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries with time-series data (1994–2010). In order to consider the different aspects of unstable employment, we tested the impacts of employment protection legislation indicators as another proxy of job insecurity (employed, but unstable) apart from unemployment rates. Covariates, including economic growth rates, GDP per capita, fertility rates, and divorce rate, were controlled for. The analysis was designed to be gender- and age-specific, where observations with ages of 25–29 were separated from those with ages of 30–34. Random effect models were applied to examine changes over time in suicide rates, and other models were presented to check robustness. The results showed that it is a low level of employment protection, rather than unemployment itself, that was associated with increased suicide rates among all of the studied populations. The magnitude of the effect differed by gender.

Revisiting the Relationship Between Suicide and Unemployment in Mexico: Evidence From Linear and Non-linear Co-integration

“…The empirical results presented in our study mirror and reflect the ones presented by Gerdtham and Johannesson (2), Ruhm (10), there is indeed a dual-link between unemployment rates and suicide rates both in the short run. Yet, it is also important to note that our empirical findings are inconsistent with those of Neumyer (45), Andrés (46), and Kim and Cho (47). Due to the advanced and comprehensive techniques and methods applied in our study, we believe the findings presented in our research to be more reliable and dependable.…”

Trends in Suicide Mortality in Montenegro From 2000 to 2018

“…In fact, as research evidence showed (e.g. Kim & Cho, 2017), unstable employment is better predictor of suicide rates. However, some studies (e.g.…”

Is unemployment less important than expected for suicide attempted in developing regions? Occupational profile of suicide attempts in Jujuy, north westernmost Argentina

“…persons descendent of who were once part of the Tawantinsuyu, the Inca Empire in the Central Andes; see García Moritán & Cruz, 2011). Despite that these aspects lead to suppose that the relevance of job instability in mental health-related problems, as it is suicide, may be not so clear, a recent report of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states out that it is instability in employment, rather than unemployment itself, the factor that would be associated to high rates of suicide in the youngest population (Kim & Cho, 2017). It seems necessary to replicate this study on suicide attempts because Argentina currently undergoing a major economic crisis that is deeply impacting on employment (i.e.…”