Association between Elder Mistreatment and Suicidal Ideation among Community-Dwelling Chinese Older Adults in the USA.
BACKGROUND
Elder mistreatment and suicidal ideation are important public health concerns among aging populations. However, very few studies have been conducted to explore the association between elder mistreatment and suicidal ideation.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between elder mistreatment and suicidal ideation among Chinese older adults in the USA.


METHODS
Guided by a community-based participatory research approach, in this study we conducted in-person interviews with Chinese older adults aged 60 years and older in the Greater Chicago area from 2011 to 2013. Elder mistreatment was assessed by a 10-item instrument derived from the Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test (H-S/EAST) and the Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale (VASS). Suicidal ideation was assessed by the ninth item of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Geriatric Mental State Examination-Version A (GMS-A).


RESULTS
Overall, 3,159 Chinese older adults participated in this study, and their mean age was 72.8 years. After controlling for age, gender, education, income, medical comorbidities, depressive symptoms, and social support, elder mistreatment was significantly associated with 2-week suicidal ideation (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.52-4.01) and 12-month suicidal ideation (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.62-3.73). With respect to gender differences, the study found that the association remained significant for older women but not for older men after adjusting for all confounding factors.


CONCLUSIONS
As the largest epidemiological study conducted among Chinese older adults in the USA, this study suggests that elder mistreatment is significantly associated with 2-week and 12-month suicidal ideation in older women but not in older men. Longitudinal studies should be conducted to explore the mechanisms through which elder mistreatment links with suicidal ideation.
Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Ill., USA.
XinQi
X
Dong
Ruijia
R
Chen
Bei
B
Wu
Ning Jackie
NJ
Zhang
Ada Chan Yuk-Sim
AC
Mui
Iris
I
Chi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012944:Social Support; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology