Labor market discrimination and suicidal ideation: A longitudinal study of Korean women

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) 2024-08, Vol.354, p.117080, Article 117080
• Main Author: Chu, Youngmin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Discrimination; Korean longitudinal survey of women and family (KLoWF); Korean women; Mental health; Suicidal ideation
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117080

This study investigates the impact of gender discrimination in the labor market on suicidal ideation among Korean women, taking into consideration women's multiple social locations and their discriminatory experiences across various aspects of employment. Analysis using waves 4 to 8 data of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Family, with response rates ranging from 68.3% to 78.2%, indicates that gender discrimination in hiring, dismissal, promotion, job allocation, training, wage, and sexual harassment is strongly associated with suicidal thoughts among women. This relationship remains significant even after controlling for stress, depression, and other forms of discrimination. Subgroup analysis further highlights that women with lower income levels are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of gender discrimination. The findings underscore the importance of policy intervention to mitigate labor market discrimination against women as a crucial step in preventing suicides among Korean women. •Gender discrimination in the labor market is significantly associated with suicidal ideation among Korean women.•The impact of discrimination remains substantively significant even after controlling stress, depression, and prior suicidal ideation.•The analysis takes women's different social locations and discrimination in multiple settings into account.•Women with lower income levels are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of gender discrimination.•Policy intervention to reduce labor market discrimination against women is essential to prevent the suicide of Korean women.