The Effect of Sex Ratios on Suicide

Abstract

Whereas sex ratios are likely to affect the likelihood of marriage, how sex ratios affect health and survival is underexplored. This study uses suicide as a measure of mental health and examines how suicides are affected by sex ratios. As women tend to marry men older than themselves, shrinking populations will lead to higher sex ratios (i.e., higher proportions of men) in the marriage market. Using data from Japan, I find that high sex ratios, both early-life and current, are correlated with higher male suicide rates, whereas female suicide rates are generally not affected. The results of this study have important implications for public health in countries where imbalanced sex ratios are a concern.

Comparison of Social Trust's effect on suicide ideation between urban and non-urban areas: The Case of Japanese Adults in 2006

“…2 In Japan in the 21st century, suicide became a more serious issue than in prior centuries; hence, it is crucial to implement measures to prevent suicide. 3 Economic researchers have provided evidence that the increase in the suicide rate was caused partly by the economic conditions (e.g., Koo and Cox 2008;Chen et al 2009;Inagaki 2010;Kuroki 2010;Sugano and Matsuki 2014, Suzuki et al 2013;2014). 4 However, consistent with Durkheim's view, social factors are also significantly related to the suicide rate in Japan (e.g., Yamamura 2010, Andrés et al 2011; Sugano and Matsuki 2014).…”

“…The factors that influence suicide can be divided roughly into non-material human relations, regarded as social factors, and material wealth, regarded as an economic factor. In terms of social factors, to analyze suicide, previous works consider the extent to which suicide is accounted for by social capital (e.g., Putnam 2000;Yamamura 2010; Smith and Kawachi 2014), 1 the sex ratio (Kuroki 2014), the fertility rate (Okada and Samreth 2013), divorce, and marriage (e.g., Kunce and Anderson 2002;Neumayer 2003;Andrés et al 2011). In contrast, many works consider economic factors, such as public spending (Minoiu and Andrés 2008), inequality (Andrés 2005), and unemployment (e.g., Platt 1984;Yang et al 1992;Yang and Lester 1995;Breuer 2015).…”

Does the sex ratio at sexual maturity affect men's later-life mortality risks? Evidence from historical China

“…Findings from animal research show that an unbalanced sex ratio leads to intense intra-sexual competition and more aggressive interactions among the supernumerary sex (Burley, 1985; Millesi et al, 1998). Stress resulting from these reproductive or mate-seeking efforts increases mortality rates among the supernumerary sex (Burley, 1985; Kuroki, 2014; Millesi et al, 1998). Analogously, men living in an environment with lower mate availability may have fewer marriage prospects and suffer from the stress of competition for, and choice of, mates (Barclay, 2013; Bien et al, 2013; Kruger, 2008; Kuroki, 2014).…”

“…Stress resulting from these reproductive or mate-seeking efforts increases mortality rates among the supernumerary sex (Burley, 1985; Kuroki, 2014; Millesi et al, 1998). Analogously, men living in an environment with lower mate availability may have fewer marriage prospects and suffer from the stress of competition for, and choice of, mates (Barclay, 2013; Bien et al, 2013; Kruger, 2008; Kuroki, 2014). Cumulatively, stress during the period of sexual maturity may have long-term consequences on old-age mortality.…”

Imbalanced sex ratios and housing prices in the U.S.

“…For example, some places have an industry or occupation structure that generates a strong relative labor demand for men . Previous studies find that imbalanced sex ratio not only affects the propensity of marriage and divorce (Angrist, ; Brian, ; South & Lloyd, ) but also marital infidelity (Kuroki, ; Trent & South, ), mortality (Jin, Elwert, Freese, & Christakis, ), suicide (Kuroki, ), violence (Barber, ; Drèze & Khera, ; Edlund, Li, Yi, & Zhang, ; Hesketh & Xing, ), and demand for commercial sex workers (South & Trent, ).…”