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Late-Life Suicidal Ideation in Nordic and Central-European Countries: Gender Differences and Risk Factors from the
Kristina Gundersen1, Dagmar Dzurova2, Ladislav Csemy3
1Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Research Centre on Health, Quality of Life and Lifestyle in a Geodemographic and Socioeconomic Context (GeoQol), Charles University, Prague, Czechia, Czechia. gundersk@natur.cuni.cz.
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology
|May 6, 2026
Summary
Loneliness increases suicidal thoughts in older adults. Higher education and living with a partner can be protective, with factors varying by gender and region, necessitating targeted interventions for late-life suicide prevention.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Older adults face disproportionately high suicide rates, yet late-life suicidal ideation is under-researched.
- Loneliness is a significant social determinant impacting mental health in aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender- and region-specific risk factors for suicidal ideation in adults aged 50+.
- To explore the role of loneliness as a social determinant in late-life suicidal ideation across Nordic and Visegrad countries.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 11,712 participants aged 50+ from Wave 8 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).
- Logistic regression models were employed to assess associations between risk factors and suicidal ideation, controlling for gender and region.
Main Results:
- Increased loneliness was strongly linked to higher odds of suicidal thoughts in both men and women.
- Higher education served as a protective factor, particularly for men. Living with a partner reduced risk for women but not men.
- Nordic men exhibited lower risk compared to Visegrad men; no regional differences were found for women.
Conclusions:
- Social and contextual factors, including loneliness, education, and partnership status, significantly influence late-life suicidal ideation.
- Findings underscore the need for gender- and region-specific preventive strategies to address suicidal ideation in older adults.
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