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Published in: European Journal of Epidemiology 7/2016

01-07-2016 | PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY

Suicide in married couples in Sweden: Is the risk greater in same-sex couples?

Authors: Charlotte Björkenstam, Gunnar Andersson, Christina Dalman, Susan Cochran, Kyriaki Kosidou

Published in: European Journal of Epidemiology | Issue 7/2016

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Abstract

Minority sexual orientation is a predictor of suicide ideation and attempts, though its association with suicide mortality is less clear. We capitalize on Sweden’s extensively linked databases, to investigate whether, among married individuals, same-sex marriage is associated with suicide. Using a population-based register design, we analyzed suicide risk among same-sex married women and men (n = 6456), as compared to different-sex married women and men (n = 1181723) in Sweden. We selected all newly partnered or married individuals in the intervening time between 1/1/1996 and 12/31/2009 and followed them with regard to suicide until 12/31/2011. Multivariate Poisson regression was used to calculate adjusted incidence risk ratios (IRR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). The risk of suicide was higher among same-sex married individuals as compared to different-sex married individuals (IRR 2.7, 95 % CI 1.5–4.8), after adjustment for time at risk and socioeconomic confounding. Sex-stratified analyses showed a tentatively elevated risk for same-sex married women (IRR 2.5, 95 % CI 0.8–7.7) as compared to different-sex married women. Among same-sex married men the suicide risk was nearly three-fold greater as compared to different-sex married (IRR 2.895 % CI 1.5–5.5). This holds true also after adjustment for HIV status. Even in a country with a comparatively tolerant climate regarding homosexuality such as Sweden, same-sex married individuals evidence a higher risk for suicide than other married individuals.
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Metadata
Title
Suicide in married couples in Sweden: Is the risk greater in same-sex couples?
Authors
Charlotte Björkenstam
Gunnar Andersson
Christina Dalman
Susan Cochran
Kyriaki Kosidou
Publication date
01-07-2016
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
European Journal of Epidemiology / Issue 7/2016
Print ISSN: 0393-2990
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7284
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-016-0154-6

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