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Suicide Risk among Older Adults: The Moderating Role of Hope
Suzanne McLaren1, Paola Castillo1, Richard Tindle1
1School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, Australia.
Clinical Gerontologist
|February 24, 2022
Summary
Hope and its components, agency and pathways, can protect older adults by weakening the links between interpersonal needs and suicide risk. Increasing hope may reduce suicide risk in this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Suicide risk is a significant concern among older adults.
- Interpersonal factors like perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are linked to suicide risk.
- Acquired capability for suicide also contributes to suicide risk in older populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if hope and its components (agency and pathways) act as protective factors against suicide risk in older adults.
- To examine the moderating role of hope on the relationship between interpersonal needs, acquired capability for suicide, and suicide risk.
- To explore the influence of hope on suicide risk among older adults with specific risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A community sample of 594 older Australians (60-95 years) participated.
- Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing suicidal behaviors, interpersonal needs, acquired capability for suicide, hope, and depressive symptoms.
- Statistical analyses controlled for depressive symptoms and sociodemographic variables.
Main Results:
- Hope and agency moderated the relationship between thwarted belongingness and suicide risk.
- Hope, agency, and pathways moderated the relationship between acquired capability for suicide and suicide risk.
- Depressive symptoms and sociodemographic variables were controlled for in the analyses.
Conclusions:
- Hope, particularly its agency and pathways components, plays a crucial role in mitigating suicide risk among older adults.
- Interventions aimed at increasing hope may be beneficial for older adults experiencing thwarted belongingness and those with acquired capability for suicide.
- Further research is needed to address suicide risk in older adults with perceived burdensomeness.
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