A reexamination of ''sociological and economic theories of suicide: A comparison of the USA and Taiwan''

Author(s): Huang, W. C.

Journal/Book: Soc Sci Med. 1996; 43: The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England OX5 1GB. Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd. 421-423.

Abstract: This paper is an update and reexamination of Yang et al. [Yang B., Lester D. and Yang C. Soc. Sci. Med. 34, 333, 1992]. Time-series analyses were carried out to explore the importance of sociological and economic determinants of suicide rates in the U.S. and in Taiwan for 1952-1992. Labor market related variables (unemployment and female labor force participation) were found to play similar roles in multiple regressions for both nations, while general economic and social conditions (GNP per capita and divorce) played a role only in the U.S. A comparison of standardized coefficients revealed that pure economic variables exerted greater influence over national suicide rates than sociological variables.

Note: Article WC Huang, Western Michigan Univ, Dept Econ, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 USA

Keyword(s): suicide; USA; Taiwan; economic and sociological variables; UNEMPLOYMENT; COUNTRIES; RATES

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