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Suicide amongst Irish migrants in Britain: a review of the identity and integration hypothesis

Aspinall, Peter J. (2002) Suicide amongst Irish migrants in Britain: a review of the identity and integration hypothesis. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 48 (4). pp. 290-304. ISSN 0020-7640. (doi:10.1177/002076402128783325) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:668)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/002076402128783325

Abstract

Background: Studies have consistently reported higher rates of suicide amongst Irish migrants in Britain than in the population as a whole. Leavey offers a hypothetical model to explain such rates that incorporates lack of social cohesion and integration meshed with the inability to establish an authentic identity and other contributory factors.

Material: Systematic review methodologies are used to examine the central tenets of this explanatory framework. Some of the macro-level ecological associations in the model are critically evaluated in the context of findings from the 1991 Census and government social and household panel surveys.

Discussion: The evidence base suggests that statements on social isolation and reluctance to use health care services are questionable and Irish migration is shown to be much more heterogeneous than the model suggests. Only small positive, and as yet unreplicated, associations have been established between identity and health behaviour in a non-representative sample and evidence is lacking of Irish stoicism and anti-Irish racism as putative risk factors. Epidemiological studies show that adjusting suicide rates for social class explains virtually none of the excess in Irish migrants, although higher risks for unmarried persons are reported. Explanations in the literature for higher rates of migrant suicide are discussed.

Conclusions: Studies based on individual-level analysis and record linkage are urgently needed to explain the high rates.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/002076402128783325
Uncontrolled keywords: suicide, irish migrants, britian, social cohesion
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Samantha Osborne
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2007 18:24 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:39 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/668 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Aspinall, Peter J..

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