Exploring the association between hearing status and suicidal ideation among U.S. adults: An observational study

Suicidal ideation is a critical public health concern, and its relationship with hearing status has garnered increasing attention. This study aimed to investigate the association between hearing status and suicidal ideation in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.

Data were analyzed from 8095 participants in the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Weighted logistic regression models, along with restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses, explored the relationship between hearing status and suicidal ideation, adjusting for potential confounders. Subgroup analyses by sex, race, education level, marital status, family monthly poverty level, vision trouble, mobility trouble, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer were conducted. A Zero-Inflated Poisson (ZIP) regression model was applied to explore the association between hearing status and the level of suicidal ideation.

Participants with more difficulty hearing showed a higher likelihood of experiencing suicidal ideation (P < 0.05 for all). Further analysis using RCS regression confirmed a linear relationship between hearing status and suicidal ideation risk (P_nonlinear > 0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant interactions across different stratifications (P > 0.05 for all). The ZIP analysis revealed that individuals with moderate hearing trouble or those identified as deaf or hard of hearing exhibited higher frequencies of suicidal ideation.

This study identifies an association between hearing status and suicidal ideation among U.S. adults. Factors such as discrimination, social isolation, environmental inaccessibility, and communication barriers may underlie this relationship. Interventions aimed at reducing suicidal ideation should focus on addressing these underlying factors, improving access to supportive resources, and promoting inclusive and accommodating environments for individuals with hearing difficulties.