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Social inclusion affects elderly suicide mortality
Andriy Yur'yev1, Lauri Leppik, Liina-Mai Tooding
1Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute (ERSI), Center of Behavioural and Health Sciences and Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia. aeyuryev@gmail.com
International Psychogeriatrics
|September 15, 2010
Summary
Societal attitudes significantly impact elderly suicide rates. Positive views and continued labor-market inclusion are linked to lower mortality, especially in Western Europe.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Investigated national attitudes towards the elderly and their correlation with elderly suicide mortality across 26 European countries.
- Compared attitudinal differences between Eastern and Western European nations regarding the elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between societal attitudes and elderly suicide mortality.
- To compare attitudes and suicide rates in Eastern versus Western Europe.
- To identify factors influencing elderly suicide mortality.
Main Methods:
- Utilized World Health Organization (WHO) European Mortality Database for age-adjusted, gender-specific elderly suicide rates.
- Employed European Social Survey data for citizens' attitudes towards the elderly.
- Conducted Pearson's correlation analysis and compared mean attitude scores between Eastern and Western Europe.
- Obtained labor-market exit age data from EUROSTAT.
Main Results:
- Positive perceptions of the elderly (higher status, economic contribution, moral standards, friendliness, admiration) showed an inverse correlation with suicide mortality.
- Elderly suicide rates were lower in countries with higher rates of elderly living with families.
- Elderly suicide mortality was inversely correlated with labor-market exit age.
- Eastern European countries perceived the elderly's status and economic contribution as less important compared to Western European countries.
- Western Europeans expressed more admiration and friendliness towards the elderly and had more elderly relatives in the family.
- Gender differences in suicide rates were observed.
Conclusions:
- Societal attitudes demonstrably influence elderly suicide mortality.
- Attitudes towards the elderly are more favorable in Western European countries.
- Extended labor-market inclusion serves as a protective factor against elderly suicide.
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