Residential Mobility and Suicide: Understanding the Role of Partnership Transitions, Life Stages and Housing Context.

Joan Damiens , University of Helsinki

Little is known about the relationship between residential mobility – a disruptive life event that can bring positive or negative outcomes to one’s life, according to the context - and suicide. This paper investigates this association, the role of the partnership transitions – closely linked to the residential course – and its life stages. Belgian National Register, Census, and death certificates allow to follow the mobility and union trajectories of all individuals aged 20 to 64 registered in Belgium in 2008-2015. Cox proportional hazard models estimate the association between residential mobility and suicide risk. Findings show that mobilities in the context of separation or no union change (for both single and partnered individuals) are related to higher suicide risk than immobility. In contrast, mobility in the context of union formation is not. However, we notice that middle-aged adults (40 to 54) present higher suicide risks in all cases of residential mobility, especially if accompanied by a union dissolution. This study confirms that union dissolutions are associated with a higher risk of suicide -whether accompanied by residential mobility or not. However, mobility is mainly associated with higher suicide risks, especially for middle-aged adults, traditionally expected to seek stability. This is particularly the case in Belgium, where housing norms are strong, marked by a high homeownership rate and high mobility-related costs. A comparison with the Finnish context, where mobility-related costs are lower, will be presented.

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 Presented in Session P2. Health, Mortality, Ageing - Aperitivo