Do tenants suffer from status syndrome? Homeownership, norms, and suicide in Belgium

Background: Death by suicide is particularly high for the middle-aged and for single and/or childless individuals. At the same time, the risk of suicide is higher for tenants than for homeowners. Objective: This study examines the varying effect of housing tenure on suicide risk according to sex, age (for adults), and household composition. Methods: We used data from Belgium’s National Register linked to 2001 census data and death certificates to study suicide rates in the population aged 20 to 69 years in 2002, separately by sex. Results: We find a negative association of homeownership on sui... Mehr ...