Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 11(4), pp. 448 - 454
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2023.110409
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Social Capital and Suicide Rates: Panel Data Analysis in South Korea

Sehee Han ^*
Institute of Social Sciences, Kookmin University, South Korea

ABSTRACT

Suicide is a significant public health issue in South Korea. An increasing number of researchers have begun to consider social capital as a protective element against suicide. The major aim of the research was to scrutinize the impact of social capital on suicide rates using panel data in South Korea. All data used in this research, except for the social capital variable, were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service. The social capital variable was acquired from the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Panel data were constructed using administrative-district level data from South Korea spanning from 2009 to 2018. The fixed-effect Poisson quasi-maximum likelihood estimator was applied. The findings showed that higher levels of social capital were related to lower suicide rates (B = -.046, p < .001). Thus, a one-unit increase in nonprofit organizations was related to an approximately 4.5% decrease in suicide mortality. However, community center was not statistically associated with suicide rates. The current research provides further evidence that the implementation of a public intervention that can formulate civic society, encourage citizens to articulate and share their concerns, and promote interactions among members of the society for advancing a public interest may have a protective effect on suicide.

KEYWORDS
Social Capital, Suicide, Suicide Rates, South Korea, Panel Data Analysis

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Sehee Han , "Social Capital and Suicide Rates: Panel Data Analysis in South Korea," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 448 - 454, 2023. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2023.110409.

(b). APA Format:
Sehee Han (2023). Social Capital and Suicide Rates: Panel Data Analysis in South Korea. Universal Journal of Public Health, 11(4), 448 - 454. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2023.110409.