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Effects of socioeconomic factors on secular trends in suicide in Japan, 1953–86

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Y. Motohashi
Y. Motohashi
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Chronomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
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Summary

The effects of socioeconomic factors on secular trends in suicide rates in Japan for the periods 1953–72 and 1973–86 were investigated using twelve socioeconomic indicators. Multiple regression analysis showed that the socioeconomic indicators affecting suicide rates were not identical in the two periods. The rates in both sexes in 1953–72 were closely related to unemployment rate and the labour force but between 1973 and 1986, divorce rate and the proportion in tertiary industry were most influential. The changes reflect the socioeconomic changes in industrial structure in Japan in transition from an industrial to a service economy.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 23 , Issue 2 , April 1991 , pp. 221 - 227
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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