Social life factors affecting suicide in Japanese men and women.

To clarify the social life factors affecting suicide mortality in Japanese men and women, the relationship between a wide variety of social and demographic indicators and age-adjusted suicide mortality was assessed in 46 prefectures in Japan by stepwise multiple-regression analysis after classification of the indicators by factor analysis. The findings indicated that rural residence was the major factor for male mortality in both 1970 and 1975; over the interval between these years, a serious economic crisis (the oil crisis) took place, and the mortality significantly increased. In addition, in 1970 (a time of high economic growth), home help for the elderly (a possible indicator of social isolation in old people), depopulation by social mobility, and urban residence were positively associated with male mortality. In women, on the other hand, both the 5-year increase in suicide mortality and the effects of the social life factors were less significant. The unique position of Japan in comparison with Western countries regarding social risk factors for suicide is discussed in the light of these findings.