Citation

Yur'yev A, Varnik A, Värnik P, Sisask M, Leppik L. Int. J. Soc. Welf. 2012; 21(1): 26-33.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1468-2397.2010.00777.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The aims of this study were to assess the relationship between suicide mortality and social expenditure in 26 European countries, explore attitudes towards welfare systems and their relationship with suicide mortality, and compare attitudes towards welfare provision in Eastern and Western Europe. The World Health Organization suicide data and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development social expenditure data for 1980-2005 were used. Data on attitudes towards welfare systems were taken from the European Social Survey. Differences between mean scores for attitudes in Western and Eastern European countries were calculated. Correlations between social expenditure and suicide trends were negative in most countries for both genders. Inverse correlations between attitudes towards welfare provision and suicide mortality rates were demonstrated for males only. Differences in attitudes were found between Eastern and Western European countries; for example, confidence in the welfare system was found to be stronger in Western Europe. Higher social expenditure and greater confidence in welfare provision appear to have suicide-preventive effects. © 2011 The Author(s) International Journal of Social Welfare. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide; Eastern Europe; Attitudes; Western Europe; Social welfare; European Social Survey