Suicide in young Norwegians in a life course perspective

Population-based cohort study

Datos Bibliográficos

ID11172002
AutoresHans Magne Gravseth (National Institute of Occupational Health, autor de correspondencia), Lars Mehlum (0000-0003-2813-0045, University of Oslo), T Bjerkedal (Norwegian Armed Forces), Petter Kristensen (0000-0003-0469-5033, National Institute of Occupational Health)
Año2010
Volumen64
Número5
Páginas407-412
Fecha de publicación2010-05-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0143-005X • E-ISSN: 1470-2738
EditorialBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/jech.2008.083485
PMID19679707
OpenAlexW2106454741
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas13
Referencias citadas26

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a leading cause of death in young adults. Several risk factors are well known, especially those related to adult mental health. However, some risk factors may have their origin in the very beginning of life. This study examines suicide in the general Norwegian population in a life course perspective, with a main focus on early life factors. METHODS: In this study, several national registers were linked, supplying personal data on biological and social variables from childhood to young adult age. Participants were all Norwegians live born during the period 1967-1976, followed up through 2004. Persons who died or emigrated before the year of their 19th birthday, at which age follow-up started, were excluded. Thus, the study population comprised 610 359 persons, and the study outcome was completed suicide. RESULTS: 1406 suicides (0.23%) were recorded, the risk being four times higher in men than in women. Suicide risk factors included not being firstborn (adjusted HR in men and women (95% CIs): 1.19 (1.05 to 1.36) and 1.42 (1.08 to 1.88)), instability of maternal marital status during childhood, parental suicide (mainly in women), low body mass index (only investigated in men), low education and indications of severe mental illness. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide in young adults may be rooted in early childhood, and the effect is likely to act through several mechanisms, some of which may be linked to the composition and stability of the parental home. A life course perspective may add to our understanding of suicide

Birth order · Cohort · Cohort study · Developmental psychology · Environmental health · Firstborn · Injury prevention · Life course approach · Marital status · Medical emergency · Mental health · Mental illness · Norwegian · Poison control · Population · Psychiatry · Suicide prevention · Young adult · Demography · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies · Gerontology · Pediatrics