Background: While the link between the unemployment and the national suicide rates is confirmed by various studies, there are few investigations on the impact of unemployment on homicide rates. In particular, it is not known whether suicide and homicide are associated with the same socio-economic factors.
Methods: Using linear regression method, the influence of unemployment rates, per capita incomes and annual alcohol consumption on suicide and homicide rates was examined in the 27 EU states.
Results: We found a positive correlation between suicide and homicide rates. Unemployment among men is a strong predictor not only for suicide- but also for homicide rates. Suicide rates in men are also affected by the annual alcohol consumption. The suicide rates in women, however, correlate neither with socio-economic variables nor with alcohol consumption.
Conclusions: Unemployment seems to have a stronger impact on the male than on the female identity. Since the former is still highly dependent on predetermined social roles.