Suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts in a population-based study of Chinese people: risk attributable to hopelessness, depression, and social factors.
BACKGROUND
The population attributable fraction of hopelessness, depression and other risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts in Asian population is unknown. Social support is often said to be a buffer against the effect of hopelessness and depression.


METHODS
Suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts as well as demographic and psychometric data were delineated in a random and representative population sample of 2,219 Chinese people in Hong Kong. The population attributable fraction was used to determine the contribution of hopelessness, depression and other risk factors to suicidal ideation and attempts.


RESULTS
Multivariate modelling shows that about 40% of suicidal ideation and attempts was attributable to depression and about 20% was attributable to hopelessness. Drug abuse and marital dissolution were also significant contributors to suicidality. The impact of hopelessness and depression was not affected by social support.


CONCLUSIONS
Suicidality was self-reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts were to a large extent attributable to depression and hopelessness, and, to a lesser extent, drug abuse and marital dissolution. Social support appeared to play little role as a buffer.
Cheung
Yin Bun
YB
MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Law
C K
CK
Chan
Brandford
B
Liu
Ka Yuet
KY
Yip
Paul S F
PS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D004243:Divorce / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data