Suicidal ideation and associated factors among community‐dwelling elders in Taiwan

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to explore the suicidal ideation of community-dwelling elderly and the factors associated with their intention to commit suicide. Using a multilevel stratified sampling strategy, 1000 elderly subjects were recruited (aged 65-74 years old) in Taiwan during the year 2001. The degree of depression and its correlates were assessed. Suicidal ideation was measured by asking respondents if they had had any suicidal thoughts in the previous week. In all, 16.7% of respondents reported suicidal ideation within the past week; its occurrence was related to sex, religious belief, employment status, marital status, average family monthly income, physical health status, depressive symptoms, and community activity participation. Further multivariate logistic regression revealed that, aside from depressive symptoms and a lower level of education, no community participation in the past 6 months was significantly associated with the appearance of suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among the elderly in Taiwan is higher than in Western countries. Participation in social activities is negatively associated with elderly suicidal ideation. The dimension of social participation deserves further exploration and should be considered in community mental health promotion interventions for elderly people.

Male Gender and Low Education with Poor Mental Health Literacy: A Population-based Study

“…Relations between depression severity and suicide ideation were consistent with those of other studies. 25,26 Concerning health promotion aimed at suicide prevention, the strong correlation between depression severity and the acceptance of suicide should be addressed publicly in order to raise awareness of suicide. This may facilitate a supportive attitude among the population in confronting depression and suicide ideation.…”

Chronic Disease, Disability, Psychological Distress and Suicide Ideation among Rural Elderly: Results from a Population Survey in Shandong

“…Chronic disease and disability were also determinants of “high” psychological distress [12,13]. Social demographics and other factors such as depression and insomnia have been associated with suicide ideation [14,15,16]. …”

Living arrangements and suicidal ideation among the Korean older adults

“…First, few studies have examined the relationship between living arrangements and suicidal ideation, and these mainly focused on specific subjects, such as patients (see Fassberg, 2012, for review), limited age groups (Yen et al, 2005), or a specific geographic area (Awata et al, 2005; Yen et al, 2005). Second, previous research found no significant difference in suicidal ideation between those living alone and those who do not in Taiwan (Yen et al, 2005) or Japan (Awata et al, 2005). In Korea, research has shown an association between living arrangements and suicidal ideation, although such research is inconsistent.…”