#courseraproject

Dataset

For this project, I selected the NESARC Wave 1 dataset, a nationally representative survey focused on substance use and mental health issues among U.S. adults.

Research Topic

I'm interested in exploring whether the age someone starts smoking impacts their likelihood of developing nicotine dependence.

Selected Variables

S3AQ3B1 – Age respondent first smoked a cigarette

S3AQ3C1 – Frequency of smoking in the past 12 months

S3BQ1A5 – Diagnosed with nicotine dependence (DSM-IV criteria)

Research Questions

Does starting to smoke at a younger age increase the risk of developing nicotine dependence?

At what age does the risk become significantly higher?

Summary

This study looks into the potential link between early smoking behavior and later addiction. By focusing on the age of smoking initiation and diagnosis of nicotine dependence, the goal is to highlight how early interventions could change addiction outcomes in adulthood.

Literature Review

Prior research supports a strong connection between early smoking and later dependence:

Kandel & Chen (2000) showed that the earlier individuals start smoking, the greater their risk of developing heavy smoking habits and nicotine dependence.

Breslau et al. (1998) emphasized that younger initiation age predicts more difficulty quitting and higher addiction severity.

References

Kandel, D. B., & Chen, K. (2000). Extending adolescent smoking patterns into adulthood: The link between early onset and later nicotine dependence. American Journal of Public Health, 90(5), 692–695.

Breslau, N., Peterson, E. L., & Schultz, L. R. (1998). Smoking cessation in young adults: Age at initiation of cigarette smoking and other suspected influences. Preventive Medicine, 27(2), 217–224.

Hypothesis

"Individuals who begin smoking earlier are more likely to develop nicotine dependence compared to those who start later."

I have chosen the Gapminder dataset for my project. This dataset provides information on global social, economic, and health indicators across different countries and years. After reviewing the codebook, I became interested in exploring the relationship between economic development and human health, particularly focusing on GDP per capita and life expectancy.

Topic of Interest: The relationship between economic development and human health

The main question I would like to study is: Is GDP per capita associated with life expectancy across countries?

This question examines whether wealthier nations tend to have longer life expectancies, reflecting how economic progress can influence public health outcomes. I also expect that in countries with larger populations, the positive effect of GDP per capita on life expectancy may be weaker, as economic and health resources could be more unevenly distributed among citizens.

Second Topic: Population dynamics

While GDP and life expectancy form the core of my study, I am also curious about population size. Does having a very large or small population influence how wealth translates into health outcomes?

A quick literature review conducted on Google Scholar shows that this relationship has been studied for decades:

Preston (1975): First described the positive GDP–life expectancy link.

Deaton (2003): Showed that income gains improve health but unevenly across regions.

Pritchett & Summers (1996): Argued that “wealthier is healthier” — higher incomes allow for better health infrastructure and living standards.

These studies support the idea that national wealth plays a major role in shaping health outcomes, but local and demographic factors can complicate this relationship.

Data Set: GAPMINDER

Motivation: The relationship between employment rates and mental health, specifically suicide rates, is a critical area of research that addresses fundamental issues of economic stability, social welfare, and public health. Understanding how employment status impacts mental well-being is essential for developing effective policies and interventions that can mitigate the adverse effects of unemployment and economic downturns on individuals and communities.

Research Question:

Is there an association between employment rates and suicide rates across countries?

Refined Research Question:

How do employment rates impact suicide rates globally, and does this association change when considering income per person, urbanization, and alcohol consumption?

Key words used: Unemployment + mental health + suicide + alcohol + urbanisation

Literature Review References:

Nordt, C., Warnke, I., Seifritz, E., & Kawohl, W. (2015). "Modelling suicide and unemployment: a longitudinal analysis covering 63 countries, 2000–2011." The Lancet Psychiatry, 2(3), 239-245.

This study explores the relationship between unemployment rates and suicide rates, providing evidence of a significant correlation, and emphasizes the importance of economic factors in mental health outcomes.

Stuckler, D., Basu, S., Suhrcke, M., Coutts, A., & McKee, M. (2009). "The public health effect of economic crises and alternative policy responses in Europe: an empirical analysis." The Lancet, 374(9686), 315-323.

This research examines the impact of economic crises on public health, including mental health outcomes like suicide rates, highlighting the influence of employment status on these outcomes.

Blakely, T. A., Collings, S. C. D., & Atkinson, J. (2003). "Unemployment and suicide. Evidence for a causal association?" Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 57(8), 594-600.

This paper discusses the potential causal relationship between unemployment and suicide, contributing to the understanding of how economic and employment factors affect mental health.

Chang, S. S., Gunnell, D., Sterne, J. A., Lu, T. H., & Cheng, A. T. (2009). "Was the economic crisis 1997-1998 responsible for rising suicide rates in East/Southeast Asia? A time-trend analysis for Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand." Social Science & Medicine, 68(7), 1322-1331.

This study analyzes the rise in suicide rates during economic crises in East/Southeast Asia, underscoring the relationship between employment and mental health in different cultural contexts.

Kawachi, I., & Wamala, S. (Eds.). (2006). "Globalization and Health." Oxford University Press.

This book covers various aspects of globalization and their impact on health, including how changes in employment patterns influence mental health and suicide rates worldwide.

Hypothesis:

Null Hypothesis (H0): There is no significant association between employment rates and suicide rates across countries.

Alternative Hypothesis (H1): Higher employment rates are associated with lower suicide rates across countries, even when controlling for income per person, urbanization, and alcohol consumption.

Codebook and Variables:

Group 1: Employment Rates

employrate: This variable measures the employment rate in each country, representing the percentage of the working-age population that is employed.

Group 2: Suicide Rates

suicideper100th: This variable measures the rate of suicides per 100,000 people in each country.

Control Variables:

incomeperperson: This variable measures the average income per person, representing economic status.

urbanrate: This variable measures the percentage of the population living in urban areas, representing urbanization levels.

alcconsumption: This variable measures the average alcohol consumption per person, representing potential influences on mental health.

References:

Nordt, C., Warnke, I., Seifritz, E., & Kawohl, W. (2015). Modelling suicide and unemployment: a longitudinal analysis covering 63 countries, 2000–2011. The Lancet Psychiatry, 2(3), 239-245.

Stuckler, D., Basu, S., Suhrcke, M., Coutts, A., & McKee, M. (2009). The public health effect of economic crises and alternative policy responses in Europe: an empirical analysis. The Lancet, 374(9686), 315-323.

Blakely, T. A., Collings, S. C. D., & Atkinson, J. (2003). Unemployment and suicide. Evidence for a causal association? Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 57(8), 594-600.

Chang, S. S., Gunnell, D., Sterne, J. A., Lu, T. H., & Cheng, A. T. (2009). Was the economic crisis 1997-1998 responsible for rising suicide rates in East/Southeast Asia? A time-trend analysis for Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand. Social Science & Medicine, 68(7), 1322-1331.