B. Subjects and data collection
2. Socio-environmental factors
(A) Socio-environmental factors (Index of Statistics Korea)
Based on a study by Franklin et al. (2017), the present study aimed to identify new risk factors by collecting additional socio-environmental indicators that may have an effect on suicidal thoughts and behavior in addition to the factors identified to date.
The researcher retrieved the list of all socio-environmental indicators contained in
“Statistics by Theme,” “Statistics by Agency,” and “e-Regional Statistics” published by Statistics Korea (as of April 26, 2018), and complied a total of 84 statistical indicators. As study data, those published up to May 30, 2018 were used. Each of these 84 indicators was coded as “A” or “B” depending on whether it was assumed to have an effect before or after the suicide attempt, respectively. As a result, 65 indicators were coded as A, and 19 indicators as B.
The data were arranged in accordance with the administrative divisions on which the published indicators are based: indicators published at the si-do (provincial-level divisions:
metropolitan cities and provinces) and si-gun-gu levels (municipal-level divisions: cities, counties, and districts) were matched to the patients’ residential locations. Table 1 presents the list of statistical indicators.
Table 1. List of the statistical indicators of the socio-environmental factors A1 Population density by
population census
Population density by population census
Metropolitan
city/Province persons/㎢ 2010
A2 Farm households population Farm households population
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
A3 Fishery household population by age and gender/gender ratio
Fishery household population
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
A4 Economic growth rate Economic growth rate Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A5 Rate of aging population Rate of aging population Municipality % 2014
A6 Aging index Aging index Municipality % 2014
A7 Current status of urban
population Based On Urban Area Municipality % 2014
A8 Current status of urban population
Based on administrative district
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A9
Summary of economically active population by city &
province
Unemployment rate Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A10
Summary of economically active population by city &
province
Participation rate Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A11
Summary of economically active population by city &
province
Summary of economically active population by city &
province
Employment/population ratio (15-64)
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A13 Not economically active population
Total not economically active population
Metropolitan city/Province
population of 1,000 2014
Code Statistical indicators A14 Not economically active
population Childcare Metropolitan
city/Province
population of 1,000 2014
A15 Not economically active
population House-keeping Metropolitan
city/Province
population of 1,000 2014 A16 Not economically active
population Attending school Metropolitan city/Province
population of 1,000 2014 A17 Not economically active
population Others Metropolitan
city/Province
population of 1,000 2014
A18
Number of establishments and workers by gender, region (Metropolitan city/Province),
No. of Establishments and Workers (by Gender) by Region (City, Province), Industry and Size
Total workers Municipality persons 2014
A20 Number of workers per population of 1,000
Number of workers per
population of 1,000 Municipality persons 2014 A21 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Self-employed
workers_count Municipality persons 2014
A22 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Unpaid family and other
workers_count Municipality persons 2014
A23 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Regular
employees_count Municipality persons 2014
A24 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Temporary and daily
workers_count Municipality persons 2014 A25 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Agriculture, Forestry,
and Fishery Municipality persons 2014
A26 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position Mining Municipality persons 2014
A27 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position Manufacturing Municipality persons 2014
Code Statistical indicators A28 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Electricity, gas, steam
and water supply Municipality persons 2014
A29 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Water supply, sewage, waste management, materials recovery
Municipality persons 2014
A30 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position Construction Municipality persons 2014 A31 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Wholesale and Retail
trade Municipality persons 2014
A32 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Transportation and
storage Municipality persons 2014
A33 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Accommodation and
Food Service Activities Municipality persons 2014
A34 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Publishing, Film,
A35 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Financial and insurance
activities Municipality persons 2014 A36 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Real estate and leasing
business Municipality persons 2014 A37 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Professional, scientific,
nd technical activities Municipality persons 2014
A38 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Business Facilities Management and Business Support Services
Municipality persons 2014
A39 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position Education Services Municipality persons 2014 A40 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Human Health and
Social Work Activities Municipality persons 2014
A41 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Art, sports and recreation related services
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
Code Statistical indicators
A42 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Membership
organizations, repair and Other Personal Services
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
A43
Non-regular workers by gender / Metropolitan city &
province
Total Non-regular workers / Metropolitan city & province
Metropolitan city/Province
population of 1,000 2014
A44 Farm household debt (9 provinces)
Farm household debt (9 provinces)
Metropolitan
city/Province 1,000won 2014
A45
Social insurance enrollment rate by Metropolitan city/Province
Wage workers Metropolitan city/Province
population of 1,000 2014
A46
Social insurance enrollment rate by Metropolitan city/Province
National pension Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A47
Social insurance enrollment rate by Metropolitan city/Province
Health insurance Municipality % 2014
A48
Social insurance enrollment rate by Metropolitan city/Province
Employment insurance Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A49 Number of recipients for basic livelihood security
Number of recipients for basic livelihood security
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
A50 Percentage of workers in health and social services
Percentage of workers in health and social services
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A51 Share of social welfare budget in general accounting
Share of social welfare budget in general accounting
Municipality % 2014
A52 Current status of social welfare public workers
Total number of dedicated social welfare public workers
Municipality persons 2014
A53 Current status of social welfare public workers
Current
numbers_dedicated social welfare public workers
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
Code Statistical indicators
A54 Current status of social welfare public workers
Occupancy rate of dedicated social welfare public workers
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A55
Number of social welfare facilities per population of 100,000
Number of social welfare facilities per population of 100,000
Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
A56
Number of elderly welfare and leisure facilities per population of 1,000 elderly
Number of elderly welfare and leisure facilities per population of 1,000 elderly
Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
A57
Population aged over 65 years covered by medical insurance by Metropolitan city/Province
Population aged over 65 years covered by medical insurance by Metropolitan city/Province
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
A58 Local safety rating status suicide Metropolitan
city/Province rating 2014 A59 Consumer price change rate Consumer price change
rate
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014 A60 CPI for Living Necessaries
(2015=100 Gross index Municipality % 2014
A61 CPI for Living Necessaries (2015=100
Consumer price index for living necessities
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A62 CPI for Living Necessaries (2015=100
Consumer Price Index for living necessities, including housing rent
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A63
Rate of Local Tax Collection by Metropolitan Metropolitan city/Province
Amount of Levy Metropolitan
city/Province 1,000won 2014
A64 Financial independence ratio Financial independence ratio
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014 A65 Financial self-sufficiency ratio Financial
self-sufficiency ratio
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
B1 Fire safety education completion rate
Fire safety education completion rate
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
Code Statistical indicators B2 119 emergency medical
services (vehicle, crew) 119 ambulances Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
B3 119 emergency medical
services (vehicle, crew) 119 paramedics Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
B3.1 119 emergency medical services (vehicle, crew)
Certified paramedic specialist
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
B4 119 emergency medical services (vehicle, crew)
Percent of certified specialists
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
B5 Helicopter operation and rescue crew
Number of helicopter equipment owned
Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
B6
Number of ambulances and emergency medical technicians deployed
Ambulance Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
B7
Number of ambulances and emergency medical technicians deployed
Special ambulance Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
B8
Number of ambulances and emergency medical technicians deployed
Number of Manpower Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
B9
Number of ambulances and emergency medical technicians deployed
emergency medical technician (1 class)
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
B10 Number of residents covered per one 119 safety centers
Number of residents covered per one 119 safety centers
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
B11
Number of residents covered per one rescue/emergency crew
Number of residents covered per one rescue/emergency crew
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
B12
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Total number of emergency medical institutions
Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
Code Statistical indicators
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Regional emergency
medical center Municipality Number 2014
B14
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Institutions other than emergency medical institutions operating an emergency room
Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
B18
Number of emergency medical specialists per population of 100,000
Number of emergency medical specialists per population of 100,000
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
B19
Number of physicians working in medical institutions per population of 1,000
Number of physicians working in medical institutions per population of 1,000
Municipality persons 2014
All items of the statistical indicators presented in Table 1 were checked against the commentaries and annotations released by Statistics Korea; items with overlapping or missing information in any of the regions, except for Sejong Special Autonomous City, were excluded from the analysis. Table 2 presents the statistical indicators after eliminating such items. Table 3 presents the variables classified according to the socio-environmental factors associated with the statistical indicators selected for the final analysis.
Table 2. List of the statistical indicators of socio-environmental factors selected for the A1 Population density by
population census
Population density by population census
Metropolitan
city/Province persons/㎢ 2010 A2 Farm households population Farm households
population
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014 A3 Fishery household population Fishery household
population
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014 A4 Economic growth rate Economic growth rate Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014 A5 Rate of aging population Rate of aging
population Municipality % 2014
A6 Aging index Aging index Municipality % 2014
A8 Current Status of urban population
Based on
administrative district Municipality % 2014
A9
Summary of economically active population by city &
province
Unemployment rate Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A10
Summary of economically active population by city &
province
Participation rate Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A11
Summary of economically active population by city &
province
Summary of economically active population by city &
province
Employment/populatio n ratio (15-64)
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A13 Not economically active population
Total not economically active population
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014 A14 Not economically active
population Childcare Metropolitan
city/Province
population of 1,000 2014 A15 Not economically active
population House-keeping Metropolitan
city/Province
population of 1,000 2014
Code Statistical indicators A16 Not economically active
population Attending school Metropolitan city/Province
population of 1,000 2014 A17 Not economically active
population Others Metropolitan
city/Province
population of 1,000 2014
A18
Number of Establishments and Workers (by Gender) by Region (City, Province), Industry and Size
A20 Number of workers per population of 1,000
Number of workers per population of 1,000
Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014 A21 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Self-employed
workers_count Municipality persons 2014 A22 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Unpaid family and
other workers_count Municipality persons 2014 A23 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Regular
employees_count Municipality persons 2014 A24 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Temporary and daily
workers_count Municipality persons 2014 A25 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Agriculture, Forestry,
and Fishery Municipality persons 2014 A26 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position Mining Municipality persons 2014 A27 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position Manufacturing Municipality persons 2014 A28 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Electricity, gas, steam
and water supply Municipality persons 2014
A29 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Water supply, sewage, waste management, materials recovery
Municipality persons 2014
A30 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position Construction Municipality persons 2014 A31 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Wholesale and Retail
trade Municipality persons 2014
A32 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Transportation and
storage Municipality persons 2014
Code Statistical indicators A33 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Accommodation and
Food Service Activities Municipality persons 2014
A34 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Publishing, Film,
A35 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Financial and insurance
activities Municipality persons 2014 A36 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Real estate and leasing
business Municipality persons 2014
A37 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Professional, scientific,
and technical activities Municipality persons 2014
A38 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Business Facilities Management and Business Support Services
Municipality persons 2014
A39 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position Education Services Municipality persons 2014 A40 Number of workers by
industry, size, and position
Human Health and
Social Work Activities Municipality persons 2014
A41 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Art, sports and recreation related services
Municipality persons 2014
A42 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Membership organizations, repair and Other Personal Services
Municipality persons 2014
A43
Non-regular workers by gender / Metropolitan city &
province
Total Non-regular workers / Metropolitan city & province
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
A45
Social insurance enrollment rate by Metropolitan city/Province
Wage workers Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
A46
Social insurance enrollment rate by Metropolitan city/Province
National pension Metropolitan city/Province
population of 1,000 2014
Code Statistical indicators
Social insurance enrollment rate by Metropolitan city/Province
Health insurance Metropolitan
city/Province 1,000won 2014
A48
Social insurance enrollment rate by Metropolitan city/Province
Employment insurance Metropolitan city/Province
population of 1,000 2014
A49 Number of recipients for basic livelihood security
Number of recipients for basic livelihood security
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A51 Share of social welfare budget in general accounting
Share of social welfare budget in general accounting
Municipality % 2014
A52 Current status of social welfare public workers
Total number of dedicated social welfare public workers
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A53 Current status of social welfare public workers
Current
numbers_dedicated social welfare public workers
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
A54 Current status of social welfare public workers
Occupancy rate of dedicated social welfare public workers
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
A55
Number of social welfare facilities per population of 100,000
Number of social welfare facilities per population of 100,000
Municipality % 2014
A56
Number of elderly welfare and leisure facilities per population of 1,000 elderly
Number of elderly welfare and leisure facilities per population of 1,000 elderly
Municipality persons 2014
A57
Population aged over 65 years covered by medical insurance by Metropolitan city/Province
Population aged over 65 years covered by medical insurance by Metropolitan city/Province
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
A58 Local safety rating status Suicide Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014 A59 Consumer price change rate Consumer price change
rate
Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
Code Statistical indicators A60 CPI for living necessaries
(2015=100 Gross index Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014 A61 CPI for living necessaries
(2015=100
Consumer price index for living necessities
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
A62 CPI for living necessaries (2015=100
Consumer price index for living necessities, including housing rent
Metropolitan
city/Province rating 2014
A63
Rate of local tax collection by metropolitan Metropolitan city/Province
Amount of levy Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
B1 Fire safety education completion rate
Fire safety education
completion rate Municipality % 2014 B2 119 emergency medical
services (vehicle, crew) 119 ambulances Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014 B3 119 emergency medical
services (vehicle, crew) 119 Paramedics Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014 B3.1 119 emergency medical
services (vehicle, crew)
Certified paramedic specialist
Metropolitan
city/Province 1,000won 2014 B4 119 emergency medical
services (vehicle, crew)
Percent of certified specialists
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014 B5 Helicopter operation and
rescue crew
Number of helicopter equipment owned
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
B6
Number of ambulances and emergency medical technicians deployed
Ambulance Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
B7
Number of ambulances and emergency medical technicians deployed
Special ambulance Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
B8
Number of ambulances and emergency medical technicians deployed
Number of Manpower Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
B9
Number of ambulances and emergency medical technicians deployed
Emergency medical technician (1 class)
Metropolitan
city/Province persons 2014
Code Statistical indicators
B10 Number of residents covered per one 119 safety centers
Number of residents covered per one 119 safety centers
Metropolitan
city/Province % 2014
B11
Number of residents covered per one rescue/emergency crew
Number of residents covered per one rescue/emergency crew
Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
B12
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Total number of emergency medical institutions
Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
B13
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by
emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Institutions other than emergency medical
Number of emergency medical specialists per population of 100,000
Number of emergency medical specialists per population of 100,000
Metropolitan
city/Province Number 2014
B19
Number of physicians working in medical institutions per population of 1,000
Number of physicians working in medical institutions per population of 1,000
Municipality Number 2014
Table 3. Classification of variables according to socio-environmental factors
Environmental factors
Variable
Code Statistical indicator (category) Statistical indicator (item)
Socio-physical factors
A55 Number of social welfare facilities per population of 100,000
Number of social welfare facilities per population of 100,000
A56
Number of elderly welfare and leisure facilities per population of 1,000 elderly
Number of elderly welfare and leisure facilities per population of 1,000 elderly
B12
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Total number of emergency medical institutions
B13
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Regional emergency medical center
B14
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Specialized emergency medical center
B15
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Local emergency medical center
B16
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Local emergency medical institution
B17
Number of emergency medical facilities operated by emergency medical institutions and other institutions
Institutions other than emergency medical institutions operating an emergency room
Socio-structural factors
A1 Population density by Population Census
Population density by Population Census
A2 Farm Households Population Farm Households Population A3 Fishery Household Population Fishery Household Population A5 Rate of aging population Rate of aging population
Environmental factors
Variable
Code Statistical indicator (category) Statistical indicator (item)
Socio-structural factors
A6 Aging index Aging index
A8 Current Status of Urban Population Based On Administrative District A21 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position Self-employed workers_count A22 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position
Unpaid family and other workers_count
A23 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position Regular employees_count
A24 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position Temporary and daily workers_count A25 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery A26 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position Mining
A27 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position Manufacturing
A28 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Electricity, gas, steam and water supply
A29 Number of workers by industry, size, and position
Water supply, Sewage, waste management, materials recovery A30 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position Construction
A31 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position Wholesale and Retail trade A32 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position Transportation and storage A33 Number of workers by industry, size,
and position
and position