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Invited commentary: birth order and suicide in a broader context
1Centre for Health Equity Studies, Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet, Sveavägen 160, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. mikael.rostila@chess.su.se
American Journal of Epidemiology
|March 13, 2013
Summary
Later-born children face a 46% increased suicide risk with each birth order increase. This commentary explores potential explanations and societal context relevance for birth order and mental health.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Birth order is a demographic factor studied for its influence on various outcomes.
- Previous research suggests a link between birth order and mental health, but explanations remain debated.
- Bjørngaard et al. found a significant association between increased birth order and higher suicide risk in a Norwegian cohort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between birth order and suicide risk.
- To discuss the generalizability of findings from a high-income country (Norway) to other societal contexts.
- To consider alternative mechanisms that might confer benefits to later-born children.
Main Methods:
- Commentary and theoretical discussion based on existing empirical evidence.
- Analysis of the implications of birth order on suicide risk in relation to societal factors.
- Exploration of potential biological, psychological, and social mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Each increase in birth order was associated with a 46% higher suicide risk.
- The study highlights the need to investigate underlying causal pathways.
- Societal context may influence the birth order-mental health relationship.
Conclusions:
- The observed association between birth order and suicide risk warrants further investigation into explanatory mechanisms.
- Findings from affluent societies may not be directly transferable to diverse economic and social environments.
- Further research should explore how societal conditions modulate the impact of birth order on mental health outcomes.
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