PREDICTION OF SUICIDE IDEATION AMONG OLDER ADULTS: A TEST OF THE INTERPERSONAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY OF SUICIDE. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Segal, D; Marty, M; Gottschling, J
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 698
• Page End: 698
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.2595
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Suicide represent a serious public health problem among older adults. Joiner's interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior suggests that perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB) are important risk factors for suicidal ideation (SI). This study tested whether TB and PB predict SI above and beyond well-known psychological risk factors of SI (i.e., anxiety, depression, hopelessness) and tested whether the magnitude of the effect of psychological distress on SI depends on TB and PB. Older adults (N = 284) completed the Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale, Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, Geriatric Anxiety Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire (depression), and Beck Hopelessness Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses results indicated that a model with age and gender was not significant (F(2, 264) = 1.09, p = .338, adj. R2 = .001). Model 2 included the psychological distress variables along with TB and PB, and explained 52% of the variance in SI (F(7, 221) = 36.18, p < .001, adj. R2 = .519), with depression and PB being the only significant predictors (B = 0.498, SE = 0.112, 95% BCa CI = 0.277 to 0.721; B = 0.213, SE = 0.102, 95% BCa CI = 0.044 to 0.441). Next, we tested a moderation model with PB moderating the relationship between depression and SI. Results revealed a significant depression × PB interaction (B = 0.194, SE = 0.039, 95% BCa CI = 0.115 to 0.272), indicating that PB moderated the relationship between depression and SI (Figure 1). The relation between depression and SI is especially high when PB also is elevated.