Comparison of Work-Related Stress in Cluster of Workers’ Suicides in Korea: Analysis of Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, 2010–2017

Abstract

Background: There is limited research on the heterogeneity of worker suicides. We compared differences in workers’ suicides by clustering suicide deaths. Methods: From 2010 to 2017, 353 suicide deaths were claimed in the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance; variables were coded using a standardized methodology. A two-step cluster analysis classified the clusters based on demographic and employment conditions. Details of the suicide, clinical variables, personal stresses, and work-related stresses were compared using the chi-square test and one-way analysis of variance. Results: We identified five clusters and they differed particularly in work-related stress. “Responsibility-burdened type” experienced excessive responsibility as managers; “role-changed type” experienced a sudden and unpredictable role change as clerks or sales workers; “risk-exposed type” experienced physical risk factors at work (working alone, outdoors, and in shifts) as machine operating and assembling workers, or craft and related trades workers; “job-insecurity type” experienced unstable employment (irregular, nonpermanent) as elementary or service workers; “workplace-violence type” was mainly unmarried women who lived alone, and experienced interpersonal conflict and violence as professionals and related workers. There were no differences between clusters in clinical variables (except problem drinking) and personal stresses. Conclusion: Interventions to alleviate work-related stress in worker clusters are needed to prevent suicide in workers.

Mortality of Suicide and Cerebro-Cardiovascular Diseases by Occupation in Korea, 1997–2020

“…The economic crisis in Korea may have increased the work-related stress of middle managers, which can influence high suicide mortality [ 32 ]. MNG who have died by suicide in Korea experienced various work-related stresses, mainly related to excessive responsibilities compared to other occupations [ 7 , 8 ]. MNG are divided into senior management positions representing institutions or companies and management positions including middle managers within the companies [ 33 ].…”

“…Some East Asian countries, such as Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, consider suicide and CCVD overwork-related diseases and provide compensation for death [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Death by CCVD and suicide have been found to be related to long working hours and various work-related stresses in Korea [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Institutional suicide as anomie: decedents speak out for work-related suicides through a Durkheimian exploration of suicide notes in a context without institutional responsibilization for suicide prevention

“…The literature primarily focuses on work-related suicides in the USA, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, China and South Korea, addressing them mainly at the individual and institutional levels (e.g., Amagasa et al, 2005 ; Peek-Asa et al, 2021a ; Jang et al, 2022 ; Waters and Palmer, 2022 ; Sarpong, 2024 ). In addition, studies primarily aim to group work-related suicides according to type or profession or to reveal the triggers of work-related suicides, and these studies attract more attention from the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and organizational behavior.…”

“…Interpersonal conflict within the workplace serves as the primary catalyst for work-related suicides among individuals who are confronted with issues of chronic overwork and long working hours ( Nishimura et al, 2022 ). An analysis of suicides in South Korea showed a prominent cluster characterized by managers with excessive responsibility, termed as responsibility-burdened type of suicide ( Jang et al, 2022 ).…”

ICF-Based Job Performance Predictors for South Korean Industrial Accident Workers: Population-Based 3-Year Longitudinal Analysis

“…Previous studies [2] also showed that it significantly influenced the business performance, such as regarding the sales growth rate and operating profit, which could lead to social and economic losses. Especially, it may cause a loss of skilled human capital [1,7]. Furthermore, the loss of human capital is not only a big loss at the corporate level but also a huge loss at the individual level of the workers [8].…”