Childlessness in elderly suicide: an analysis of coroner's inquests of 200 cases of elderly suicide in Cheshire 1989-2001.
Child bearing has been reported to be protective for women in terms of suicide risk. However, it is not clear whether the protective effect of having children diminishes in old age. A literature search has not found studies which examined childlessness as a possible risk factor in elderly suicide. In this study we attempt to explore whether childlessness has any significant association with elderly suicide and whether this differs between women and men. Data was extracted from the records of coroners' inquests into all unexpected deaths of persons aged 60 and over, in Cheshire, over a period of 13 years from 1989-2001. The study found no significant gender difference in childlessness in elderly suicide victims (P>.05). Significantly fewer widowed men who committed suicide were childless (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.02-0.3 P<.001). A history of deliberate self-harm (DSH) and being previously known to services were found to be significantly lower in childless female victims compared to elderly mothers (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.1-0.9 P<.05). Leaving suicide notes and the method of suicide did not appear to be significantly influenced by a childless status in either of the sexes (P>.05). The protective effect of having children appears to diminish in old age. Childless females appear to be at a higher risk of succeeding in their first suicide attempt and more importantly, can easily escape the attention of services.
5 Boroughs Partnership Trust, Hollins Park, Warrington. esalib@hotmail.com
Emad
E
Salib
George
G
El-Nimr
Bassem
B
Habeeb
Mark
M
Theophanous
D000368:Aged; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D017805:Widowhood / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data