Determinants of Suicidal Behaviour in Malaysia

Yong Kang Cheah (), Mohd Azahadi (), Siew Nooi Phang () and Noor Hazilah Abd Manaf ()
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Yong Kang Cheah: School of Economics, Finance and Banking, College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia
Mohd Azahadi: Centre for Burden of Disease Research, Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia
Siew Nooi Phang: School of Government, College of Law, Government and International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia
Noor Hazilah Abd Manaf: Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia

Malaysian Journal of Economic Studies, 2018, vol. 55, issue 2, 231-243

Abstract: A sharp rise in the prevalence of suicide has become a serious public health concern. Acquiring a better understanding of the determinants of suicidal behaviour can help to implement a more effective policy directed towards reducing the suicide rate. In this study, we attempt to examine the effects of sociodemographic, lifestyle and health factors on suicidal behaviour among Malaysian adults. A rigorous statistical method and a nationally representative data are used for analyses. We find that age, gender, race, marital status, self-rated health, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia are significantly associated with suicidal behaviour. Specifically, there are positive relationships between the likelihoods of engaging in suicidal behaviour and young adults, females, Indians/others, being unmarried, and having poor health conditions. We conclude that sociodemographic and health factors play an important role in affecting suicidal behaviour, whereas lifestyle factor does not. As an intervention measure towards overcoming the problem of high suicide rate, effective policies should be targeted at individuals who are likely to engage in suicidal behaviour.

Keywords: Age; health; marital status; race; suicide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 I12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mjr:journl:v:55:y:2018:i:2:p:231-243

DOI: 10.22452/MJES.vol55no2.5

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