Positive affect and suicide ideation in older adult primary care patients.
Suicide is a significant public health problem for older adults. Identification of protective factors associated with reduced risk is important. The authors examined the association of positive affect and suicide ideation in 462 primary care patients ages 65 and older. Positive affect distinguished suicide ideators from nonideators, after controlling for age, gender, depression, negative affect, illness burden, activity, sociability, cognitive functioning, and physical functioning. There was a trend toward age moderation of this relationship. Clinical and theoretical formulations of late-life suicide should consider the role of positive affect, including the possibility that its protective effects grow more pronounced with age.
Hirsch
Jameson K
JK
Department of Psychology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA. jkhgla@rit.edu
Duberstein
Paul R
PR
Chapman
Benjamin
B
Lyness
Jeffrey M
JM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000339:Affect; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012803:Sick Role; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention