Factors associated with suicidal thoughts in a large community study of older adults

Abstract

Prevalent and past mood disorders seem to be valid targets for indicated interventions designed to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviour. However, our data indicate that social disconnectedness and stress account for a larger proportion of cases than mood disorders. Should these associations prove to be causal, then interventions that succeeded in addressing these issues would contribute the most to reducing suicidal ideation and, possibly, suicidal behaviour in later life.

Suicidal ideation in Korean persons with spinal cord injury

“…Many other studies also support that unemployment, low job compatibility, unmarried state, absence of stress reduction technique, female gender, low education level, childhood trauma, previous mental disorder, poor self-perceived health state, financial strain and poor social support are risk factors of suicide in general population. 12,[16][17][18] But Almeida et al 18 insisted that male gender and higher education level were independently associated with suicidal ideation, which is opposite to our study.…”

Suicidality-based prediction of suicide attempts in a community-dwelling elderly population: Results from the Osan Mental Health Survey

“…Disrupted social connectedness has been considered a major risk factor for suicide and suicide attempts in the elderly (Almeida et al, 2012;Wiktorsson et al, 2010). Support from family members or community peer groups has a significant protective effect against suicide.…”

Reconsidering the Relationship between Age and Financial Strain among Older Adults

“…Examination of financial strain is essential to this mission because financial strain reflects the lived experience of socioeconomic inequality through difficulty affording basic needs, such as food, clothing, and medical expenses (Pearlin 1999;Szanton, Thorpe, and Gitlin 2014). Financial strain is a particularly potent influence on mental health in older adults, with financial strain related to greater levels of a variety of aspects of psychological distress in late life, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation (e.g., Almeida et al 2012;Pudrovska et al 2005). The relationship between financial strain and psychological distress in older adults is also quite robust, as it remains significant even when tested using analytic techniques that holistically control for all time-stable life course and selection factors as well as multiple contemporaneous health conditions (Bierman 2011).…”