Sex-specific impact of socio-economic factors on suicide risk: a population-based case-control study in Denmark.
BACKGROUND
Although many authors have investigated the impact of sex on the association between socio-economic status (SES) and suicide, a definite consensus has not yet emerged. Using Danish population registration data including 15 648 suicide deaths of individuals aged 18-65 year during 1981-97 and matched population controls, we investigate the associations of multiple SES factors with suicide risk and explore the sex-specific aspects of these associations.


METHODS
We use conditional logistic regression models to estimate the statistical relationship between SES, sex and suicide.


RESULTS
SES, proxied by low income, unskilled blue-collar work, non-specific wage work and unemployment, increases suicide risk more prominently for men than for women. Marital status has a comparable influence on suicide risk in both sexes; parenthood is protective against suicide, and the effect is larger for women. Living in a large city raises suicide risk for women but reduces it for men; residents with a foreign citizenship in Denmark have a lower risk of suicide compared with Danish citizens, but this protection is confined to male immigrants.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that suicide risk is associated with a range of SES proxies but the strength and/or direction of the association can differ by sex. Risk assessment and, therefore, prevention approaches should take this into consideration.
Andrés
Antonio Rodríguez
AR
Departamento de Análisis Económico y Finanzas, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain.
Collings
Sunny
S
Qin
Ping
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*