Effects of the sex ratio and socioeconomic deprivation on male mortality

Moore, F.R., Macleod, M., Starkey, C., Krams, I. and Roy, T. (2020) Effects of the sex ratio and socioeconomic deprivation on male mortality. Archives of Suicide Research, 24(3), pp. 435-449. (doi: 10.1080/13811118.2019.1635929) (PMID:31248342)

Abstract

We explored relationships between male mortality and the sex ratio. (We tested relationships across 142 societies and in longitudinal data from Scotland. A male-biased sex ratio was associated with reduced mortality by intentional self-harm across 142 societies. This was replicated in longitudinal Scottish data, and men were less likely to die by suicide and assault when there were more men in the population only when levels of unemployment were low. We argue that this is consistent with a theoretical model in which men increase investment in relationships and offspring as “competition” under a male-biased sex ratio, and that the conflicting results of previous work may stem from divergent effects of the sex ratio on mortality depending upon relative deprivation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Richard Benjamin Trust under Grant number RBT 1303, 2013.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Moore, Fhionna
• Authors: Moore, F.R., Macleod, M., Starkey, C., Krams, I., and Roy, T.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Archives of Suicide Research
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 1381-1118
• ISSN (Online): 1543-6136
• Published Online: 28 June 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 International Academy for Suicide Research
• First Published: First published in Archives of Suicide Research 24(3):435-449
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher