Does population density moderate suicide risk? An Italian population study over the last 30 years.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The relationship between population density and suicide risk remains unclear. While urbanization is associated with greater risk for psychopathology, higher suicide rates have been reported in rural areas. We examined population density and suicide in the Italian population in the last 30 years.

Methods

The Italian National Institute of Statistics databases of the Italian population aged 15 years and older (52.4 million in 2016) were used to compute age-adjusted annual total mortality and suicide rates for the years 1985-2016. According to the European Union statistical office (EUROSTAT) criteria, municipalities were classified into densely populated areas, intermediate density areas, or thinly populated areas. Rate ratios (RRs) were computed by sex, age, and geog

SUBMITTER: Vichi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7443791 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature