Citation

Krivo LJ, Phillips JA. Soc. Sci. Q. 2018; 99(4): 1510-1521.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Southwestern Social Science Association and the University of Texas, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/ssqu.12517

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Limited research investigates the relationship between levels of immigration, a source of societal integration and regulation, and U.S. suicide rates. We examine the aggregate immigration-suicide link during the 2008-2010 period, in light of the 30-year high in suicide rates and concern about deleterious effects of immigration on the well-being of American society.

METHODS: We use data on 250 U.S. metropolitan areas and ordinary least squares regression to examine the association between immigration and suicide for 2008-2010.

RESULTS: Net of controls, recent immigration, is linked to lower suicide levels for the native-born population but has no association with foreign-born suicide rates. High levels of immigration are most protective for native-born suicide under favorable economic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: Immigration is not a threat to societal health in terms of higher suicide rates. Future research should consider the mechanisms through which beneficial effects of immigration on suicide rates operate. © 2018 by the Southwestern Social Science Association

Language: en