The secular trend of suicide rate and the socio-economic, media, and climatic factors in Taiwan, 1976–2009: A population-based study

IntroductionThe purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between the secular trend of the suicide rate and the socio-economic, media, and climatic factors in Taiwan during 1976–2009.MethodsThe yearly suicide death rate, socio-economic (spouseless population, aged population, labor participation rate, unemployment rate, and gross national production), media (newspapers, television sets, and personal computer) densities, and climatic (temperature, rainfall, and sunshine) factors were gathered. Pearson's correlation coefficients between variables were calculated, and stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted.ResultsPercentage of the spouseless and elderly population, labor participation rate, unemployment rate, and densities of newspapers and personal computer were significantly associated with suicide rate. Multiple regression chose spouseless population, labor participation rate, and unemployment rate to explain 96.1% of the variance of the suicide rate (F(3,22) = 178.996, p = 0.000).ConclusionsSocioe-conomic factors are important for the secular trend of suicide, while medium densities also play some roles.