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Racial differences in suicidality in an older urban population
Carl I Cohen1, Yolonda Colemon, Robert Yaffee
1Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Box 1203, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA. carl.cohen@downstate.edu
The Gerontologist
|April 3, 2008
Summary
No racial differences were found in suicidal ideation among older adults. Factors like depression, anxiety, medication coping, and religiosity impacted suicidality in both African Americans and Whites.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Suicidal ideation is a significant public health concern, particularly among aging populations.
- Understanding racial and ethnic differences in suicidality is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the factors associated with suicidal ideation in older African Americans and Caucasians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare factors associated with active or passive suicidal ideation in older African Americans and Caucasians.
- To investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation across racial groups in an urban community.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological study using 1990 census data from Brooklyn, New York.
- Sample included 214 Whites and 860 Blacks aged 55 or older.
- Adapted George's social antecedent model with 19 independent variables and suicidality as the dependent variable; analyzed using SUDAAN.
Main Results:
- No significant racial differences in the prevalence of current (5.8% vs 2.3%) or lifetime (14.8% vs 10.2%) suicidal ideation.
- Common factors associated with suicidality in both groups: higher depressive/anxiety symptoms, medication coping, lower religiosity.
- Unique factors: spiritualist use and keeping calm for Whites; increased doctor visits for mental health for Blacks.
Conclusions:
- No observed racial disparities in suicidal ideation prevalence among older adults.
- Identified factors influencing suicidality are largely amenable to intervention.
- Addressing depression, anxiety, and promoting coping strategies like religiosity can impact suicidality in both racial groups.
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