The relationship between population density and suicide: a systematic review and meta-analysis

IF 3.7 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHIATRY

Journal of psychiatric research Pub Date : 2025-06-03 DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.06.003

Chiara Davico , Marilia Barbosa De Matos , Marta Borgogno , Federica Agagliati , Federica Ricci , Federico Amianto , Daniele Marcotulli , Benedetto Vitiello

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Higher rates of suicide have been reported in rural areas in some countries suggesting that low population density may be associated with a higher risk of suicide. We examined the relationship between population density and suicide rates across different countries worldwide, and evaluated possible moderating effects by sex and age.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted by searching the PubMed, Embase and PsychINFO databases for relevant publications following a pre-registered protocol and standard PRISMA methods. A meta-analysis was conducted with the available data.

Results

From the 10,916 original non-duplicate articles initially identified, 80, published between 1932 and 2023 and covering time-periods ranging from 1890 to 2019 met the selection criteria. Of them, 83.8 % indicated that lower levels of population density were associated with higher suicide rates. A meta-analysis, based on the data from 8 publications, confirmed a statistically significant association between higher suicide rate and lower population density (OR = 1.87; 95 % CI: 1.53–2.30, z = 6.05, p < 0.001). This association was observed in males (p = 0.009), but not in females (p = 0.091). No consistent age or time effects were found. Context-specific differences in suicide methods were identified.

Conclusions

Across diverse socio-economic and cultural settings in the world, living in less densely populated areas involves a higher risk of suicide in the male population. Men are more sensitive to the suicide risk factors associated with less populated areas and should be a target of preventive interventions.

Prospero registration number

CRD42022345279.

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人口密度与自杀的关系：系统回顾与元分析

据报道，一些国家的农村地区自杀率较高，这表明低人口密度可能与较高的自杀风险有关。我们研究了全球不同国家的人口密度和自杀率之间的关系，并评估了性别和年龄可能产生的调节作用。方法采用预注册方案和标准PRISMA方法，检索PubMed、Embase和PsychINFO数据库，检索相关文献。对现有资料进行荟萃分析。结果在最初确定的10916篇原创非重复文章中，有80篇发表于1932年至2023年，涵盖的时间范围为1890年至2019年，符合选择标准。其中，83.8%的人表示，较低的人口密度与较高的自杀率有关。一项基于8篇出版物数据的荟萃分析证实，较高的自杀率与较低的人口密度之间存在统计学上显著的关联(OR = 1.87；95% CI: 1.53-2.30, z = 6.05, p <；0.001)。在男性中观察到这种关联（p = 0.009），但在女性中没有（p = 0.091）。没有发现一致的年龄或时间影响。确定了自杀方法的具体情况差异。结论：在世界上不同的社会经济和文化环境中，生活在人口密度较低地区的男性自杀风险更高。在人口较少的地区，男性对自杀风险因素更敏感，应该成为预防干预的目标。普洛斯彼罗注册号crd42022345279。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of psychiatric research 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

7.30

自引率

2.10%

发文量

622

审稿时长

130 days

期刊介绍： Founded in 1961 to report on the latest work in psychiatry and cognate disciplines, the Journal of Psychiatric Research is dedicated to innovative and timely studies of four important areas of research: (1) clinical studies of all disciplines relating to psychiatric illness, as well as normal human behaviour, including biochemical, physiological, genetic, environmental, social, psychological and epidemiological factors; (2) basic studies pertaining to psychiatry in such fields as neuropsychopharmacology, neuroendocrinology, electrophysiology, genetics, experimental psychology and epidemiology; (3) the growing application of clinical laboratory techniques in psychiatry, including imagery and spectroscopy of the brain, molecular biology and computer sciences;