A case-control study of hopelessness and suicidal behavior in the city of Athens, Greece. The role of the financial crisis

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) in Greek patients with a recent suicide attempt, the predictive ability of BHS especially in terms of age and the possible effect of the financial crisis on hopelessness as it has been identified as a significant suicide risk factor. The study included a total of 510 individuals, citizens of Athens, Greece. Three hundred and forty individuals (170 attempted suicide patients, and 170 -age and gender- matched healthy individuals used as controls) completed BHS before the financial crisis onset (from 2009 to 2010). A sample of 170 healthy individuals also completed the BHS after the financial crisis onset (from 2013 to 2014), when the impact of the austerity measures was being felt by the Greek society. The Greek BHS version demonstrated good psychometric properties and a sufficient degree of internal consistency. Attempted suicide patients (M = 9) presented higher hopelessness than the controls (M = 3). The patients' age positively correlated with hopelessness (r = .35, p < .001), and the ROC curve revealed that the BHS ability to discriminate the individuals with pathological rates of hopelessness from those without, strengthened as age increased. No significant differences were found between the individuals evaluated before (M = 3) and after (M = 3, p > .05) the crisis onset. Nevertheless, regarding the latter group, the women, the younger individuals, the less educated, the unemployed and the participants with low or mediocre self-reported financial status presented increased hopelessness. Our findings suggest that BHS could be a useful instrument especially when screening for suicide risk in people of older age, and that the financial crisis in Greece had a greater impact on subgroups of the population regarding hopelessness.

The Impact of Economic Recessions on Depression, Anxiety, and Trauma-Related Disorders and Illness Outcomes—A Scoping Review

“…Income inequality and personal economic distress has been associated with an increased risk of SI and attempts in South Korea and Greece [ 30 , 47 , 52 ]. Studies in Europe found that in the post-recession period people at higher risk of SI and attempt were unemployed, had financial hardship, low interpersonal trust, were married (53 times greater risk than unmarried), perceived a negative impact of the GFC, and had a history of suicide attempt (14.41 times risk) or MDD (97 times greater risk) [ 27 , 52 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 ]. The median age of people who attempt suicide increased following the GFC to middle-aged adults, particularly those approaching retirement [ 74 , 75 , 80 ].…”

Stress and perceived health among primary care visitors in two corners of Europe: Scandinavia and Greece

“…International Journal of Health Geographics negative health consequences in the Greek population have been connected to perceived diminishing health, and increased prevalence rates of mental health problems including depression [4,5]. Additionally, an increase in suicide rates has been recorded [6], and suicide attempts have been associated to increased hopelessness [7]. During the years of economic crisis in Greece it was found that young Greek adults reported higher perceived stress but had lower physiological stress than comparable young adults in Sweden [8].…”

Some Remarks for a New Sociological Theory of Sustainability

“…Syndromes have been described for those societies that use certain production systems, for example temporary reversal of roles in agricultural societies, mass-trance, ghost possession syndrome of ancestors, and industrial disease. Societies that are experiencing rapid economic crises or decline have a higher level of distress in their populations, which has led to an increase in suicide rates (Christodoulou et al, 2017;Mattei, Pistoresi, & Vogli, 2019), depression, alcohol abuse, and gambling.…”