Investigating the Time Lag Effect between Economic Recession and Suicide Rates in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry Workers in Korea.
- Author:
Jin Ha YOON
1
;
Washington JUNGER
;
Boo Wook KIM
;
Young Joo KIM
;
Sang Baek KOH
Author Information
1. Occupational Lung Disease Institute, Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, Ansan, Korea. flyinyou@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Suicide;
Economic recession;
Time series analysis
- MeSH:
Agriculture;
Asia, Southeastern;
Cause of Death;
Economic Recession;
Fisheries;
Forestry;
Gross Domestic Product;
Guanosine Diphosphate;
Korea;
Suicide;
Unemployment
- From:Safety and Health at Work
2012;3(4):294-297
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Previous studies on the vast increase in suicide mortality in Southeast Asia have indicated that suicide rates increase in parallel with a rise in unemployment or during periods of economic recession. This paper examines the effects of economic recession on suicidal rates amongst agriculture, fisheries, and forestry workers in Korea. Monthly time-series gross domestic product (GDP) data were linked with suicidal rates gathered from the cause of death records between1993-2008. Data were analyzed using generalized additive models to analyze trends, while a polynomial lag model was used to assess the unconstrained time lag effects of changes in GDP on suicidal rate. We found that there were significant inverse correlations between changes in GDP and suicide for a time lag of one to four months after the occurrence of economic event. Furthermore, it was evident that the overall relative risks of suicide were high enough to bring about social concern.
