WOMEN IN THE LABOR FORCE AND SUICIDE.

In the development of occupational studies of suicide one area of concern which generally has been neglected is female labor force participation. Using regression analysis on ecological data, this paper suggests some theoretical viewpoints with respect to female labor force participation and suicide. The results of the analysis on community level data in two metropolitan areas show that percentage nonwhite, percentage women in the labor force, male unemployment, and income were significantly related to suicide. The theoretical discussion is based on role and status integration and related problems for both women and men when there is increased involvement of women in the labor force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]