Suicide risk among native- and foreign-origin persons in Sweden: a longitudinal examination of the role of unemployment status

Abstract

Purpose Prior research has documented an association between unemployment and elevated suicide risk. Yet, few Swedish studies have explicitly considered how such risk may vary by different migration background characteristics among persons of foreign-origin, who often experience diverse forms of labor market marginalization. This study examines the extent to which unemployment status may differentially influence suicide risk among the foreign-origin by generational status, region of origin, age at arrival, and duration of residence. Methods Population-based registers were used to conduct a longitudinal, open cohort study of native-origin and foreignorigin Swedish residents of working age (25-64 years) from 1993 to 2008. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for suicide mortality were estimated using gender-stratified Cox proportional hazards models. Results Elevated suicide risk observed among foreign-origin unemployed groups was generally of a similar or lower magnitude than that found in unemployed native-origin, although unemployed second-generation Swedish men demonstrated significantly greater (p < 0.05) excess risk of suicide than that observed among their native-origin counterparts. Unemployed foreign-born men with a younger age at arrival and longer duration of residence demonstrated an increased risk of suicide, while those who arrived as adults, and a shorter duration of residence did not show any increased risk. Among foreign-born women, excess suicide risk persisted regardless of age at arrival and duration of residence in the long-term unemployed. Conclusions Multiple migration background characteristics should be considered when examining relationships between employment status and suicide among the foreign-origin.

Low-quality employment trajectories and the risk of common mental health disorders among individuals with Swedish and foreign background – a register-based cohort study

“…Potential hypothesis to explain these increased mental health effects are exposure to discrimination and racialization in the workplace, followed by continued disadvantages across generations (eg, lack of intergenerational economic mobility and perpetuation of lower socioeconomic positions). In addition, these effects could be exacerbated by divided cultural identities, such as limited sense of belonging or lack of social connection of native born) (27,28,47). Interestingly, we see female first-generation migrant workers, especially from non-EU countries in low-quality employment trajectories, had a much higher risk of CMD compared to female Swedish-born of Swedish background.…”

Does increased migration affect the rural–urban divide in suicide? A register‐based repeated cohort study in Sweden from 1991 to 2015

“…Indeed, it is noteworthy that unemployment only accounted for a small percentage of the regional variation in suicides, and thus, there may be other factors that better explain the regional differences in suicides. In addition, Dunlavy et al (2019) have suggested that the magnitude of the effect of unemployment on suicide varies with migration background characteristics and is smaller for non‐European immigrants and those with shorter periods of Swedish residency. If this is correct, it is possible that the increasing growth of refugees in rural municipalities, that is, more migrants with shorter periods of residence, may help explain the observed decrease in suicide rates among non‐European immigrants in rural municipalities.…”