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Relative Age in School and Suicide among Young Individuals in Japan: A Regression Discontinuity Approach

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  • Tetsuya Matsubayashi
  • Michiko Ueda

Abstract

Objective: Evidence collected in many parts of the world suggests that, compared to older students, students who are relatively younger at school entry tend to have worse academic performance and lower levels of income. This study examined how relative age in a grade affects suicide rates of adolescents and young adults between 15 and 25 years of age using data from Japan. Method: We examined individual death records in the Vital Statistics of Japan from 1989 to 2010. In contrast to other countries, late entry to primary school is not allowed in Japan. We took advantage of the school entry cutoff date to implement a regression discontinuity (RD) design, assuming that the timing of births around the school entry cutoff date was randomly determined and therefore that individuals who were born just before and after the cutoff date have similar baseline characteristics. Results: We found that those who were born right before the school cutoff day and thus youngest in their cohort have higher mortality rates by suicide, compared to their peers who were born right after the cutoff date and thus older. We also found that those with relative age disadvantage tend to follow a different career path than those with relative age advantage, which may explain their higher suicide mortality rates. Conclusion: Relative age effects have broader consequences than was previously supposed. This study suggests that policy intervention that alleviates the relative age effect can be important.

Suggested Citation

  • Tetsuya Matsubayashi & Michiko Ueda, 2015. "Relative Age in School and Suicide among Young Individuals in Japan: A Regression Discontinuity Approach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-10, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0135349
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135349
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Shuntaro Ando & Satoshi Usami & Tetsuya Matsubayashi & Michiko Ueda & Shinsuke Koike & Syudo Yamasaki & Shinya Fujikawa & Tsukasa Sasaki & Mariko Hiraiwa-Hasegawa & George Patton & Kiyoto Kasai & Atsu, 2019. "Age relative to school class peers and emotional well-being in 10-year-olds," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-12, March.
    2. YAMAGUCHI Shintaro & ITO Hirotake & NAKAMURO Makiko, 2020. "Month-of-Birth Effects on Skills and Skill Formation," Discussion papers 20079, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    3. Fumarco, Luca & Baert, Stijn, 2018. "Younger and Dissatisfied? Relative Age and Life-satisfaction in Adolescence," GLO Discussion Paper Series 278, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    4. Abatemarco, Antonio & Cavallo, Mariagrazia & Marino, Immacolata & Russo, Giuseppe, 2021. "Age Effects in Education: A Double Disadvantage for Second-Generation Immigrant Children," GLO Discussion Paper Series 761, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    5. Danelien A E van Aalst & Frank van Tubergen, 2021. "More popular because you’re older? Relative age effect on popularity among adolescents in class," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-14, May.
    6. John R Doyle & Paul A Bottomley, 2018. "Relative age effect in elite soccer: More early-born players, but no better valued, and no paragon clubs or countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-13, February.
    7. Fumarco, L. & Baert, S. & Sarracino, F., 2020. "Younger, dissatisfied, and unhealthy – Relative age in adolescence," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    8. Shintaro Yamaguchi & Hirotake Ito & Makiko Nakamuro, 2020. "Month-of-Birth Effects on Skills and Skill Formation," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1153, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    9. Shintaro Yamaguchi & Hirotake Ito & Makiko Nakamuro, 2020. "Month-of-Birth Effects on Skills and Skill Formation," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2015, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    10. Peña, Pablo A., 2020. "Relative age and investment in human capital," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    11. Yamaguchi, Shintaro & Ito, Hirotake & Nakamuro, Makiko, 2023. "Month-of-Birth Effects on Skills and Skill Formation," IZA Discussion Papers 15895, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. John R Doyle & Paul A Bottomley, 2019. "The relative age effect in European elite soccer: A practical guide to Poisson regression modelling," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-14, April.
    13. Yamaguchi, Shintaro & Ito, Hirotake & Nakamuro, Makiko, 2023. "Month-of-birth effects on skills and skill formation," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

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