Effect of Using Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates on the Results of Time-Series Analyses of the Suicide Rate

To explore the effect of using age-adjusted suicide rates, a time-series analysis of the effects of unemployment, divorce, labor-force participation by women, & growth in the gross national product on the Japanese suicide rate from 1953-86 was carried out using both crude & age-adjusted rates. Differences were identified in the results of the time-series analyses when crude & age-adjusted rates were used. It might be useful for researchers to check on the effects of using the 2 types of rates.