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The Changing Relationship Between Unemployment and Suicide
Author(s) -
DeFina Robert,
Han Lance
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/sltb.12116
Subject(s) - unemployment , recession , great recession , demographic economics , economics , panel data , sample (material) , fell , suicide rates , suicide prevention , labour economics , poison control , geography , econometrics , economic growth , keynesian economics , medicine , environmental health , chemistry , cartography , chromatography
The relationship between unemployment and suicide has changed over time and in particular during the Great Recession. Using state‐level panel data covering the years 1979–2010, the study indicates that unemployment's impact was insignificant during the first half of the sample period, but was highly significant during the second half. In addition, while the impact has generally become stronger over recent decades, it fell during the Great Recession although remained significant. Evidence suggesting that increased economic insecurity helps explain the growing sensitivity over time is offered. The models fit the data well, explaining up to 90% of the variation in state suicide rates.