Current Research on Suicide in Older Adults

Abstract Rates of suicide are elevated in middle- and late-life, yet studies focusing on suicidal ideation and behavior in older adults are limited compared to research in younger adults. The studies included in the present symposium offer valuable findings on suicide in older adults across the span of late-life. Owsiany et al. focus on age differences between older and younger adults in the association between anxiety symptoms and suicide risk. In Heisel et al., an online intervention is assessed for improving the outcomes of psychological well-being and suicide risk in older adult men who are transitioning into retirement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Crnek-Georgeson and Wilson reviewed the link between retirement patterns and psychological effects, including suicidal behaviors, among older adults. Additionally, this review includes recommendations for policy makers and employers in an effort to assist older adults with the transition into retirement. Utilizing baseline data from the Helping Older Adults Engage study, Fenstermacher et al. research the association between volunteering and suicidal ideation in a predominantly lonely older adult sample across the span of late-life. Together, these studies provide foundation for future research on suicide in late-life to build upon. Future studies should continue to focus on risk and protective factors for suicide in older adults and aim to improve screening and intervention for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in this population. Yeates Conwell, M.D., Director of Geriatric Psychiatry and Co-Director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide at the University of Rochester Medical Center, will serve as discussant.

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An investigation of perceived family phubbing expectancy violations and well-being among U.S. older adults

Mobile Media & Communication ◽

10.1177/2050157919872238 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 247-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Travis Kadylak

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Older Adult ◽

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Research ◽

Expectancy Violations ◽

Face To Face ◽

Internet Users ◽

Checking Behavior

Phubbing refers to the nonverbal behavior of glancing at, or using, one’s mobile phone during a face-to-face (FtF) interaction, whereby the mobile-phone-checking behavior is perceived to breach expectations of attention or etiquette. In general, phubbing can negatively affect interpersonal relationships and well-being. When younger family members’ phubbing behavior is perceived by older adult relatives as a violation of their conversational expectations, these older adults may feel ignored and disrespected. This study may be the first to investigate the associations between intergenerational family phubbing expectancy violations and indicators of well-being among older adults. Survey data were derived from a sample of U.S. Internet users aged 65 or above ( n = 679). The results suggested that both perceived frequency of family phubbing and family phubbing expectancy violations were inversely associated with mattering and indicators of well-being. Study limitations and potential directions for future research are discussed.

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Mental Health and Social Connectedness Across the Adult Lifespan in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement ◽

10.1017/s0714980821000477 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Madeline A. Gregory ◽

Nicole K. Legg ◽

Zachary Senay ◽

Jamie-Lee Barden ◽

Peter Phiri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Age Groups ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Future Research ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Adult Age

Abstract The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had profound consequences on collective mental health and well-being, and yet, older adults appear better off than younger adults. The current study examined mental health impacts of the pandemic across adult age groups in a large sample (n = 5,320) of Canadians using multiple hierarchical regression analyses. Results suggest older adults are experiencing better mental health and more social connectedness relative to younger adults. Loneliness predicted negative mental health outcomes across all age groups, while the negative association between social support and mental health was only significant at average and high levels of loneliness in the 65–69 age group. Results point towards differential mental health impacts of the pandemic across adult age groups and indicate that loneliness and social support may be key intervention targets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should further examine mechanisms of resiliency among older Canadian adults during the pandemic.

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Older Case Management Clients With Younger Family Members in Need of Care: Interdependencies and Well-Being

Care Management Journals ◽

10.1891/152109807782590655 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 162-170

Author(s):

Elizabeth Lehr Essex ◽

David E. Biegel

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Case Management ◽

Older Adult ◽

Well Being ◽

Management Program ◽

Case Management Program ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Adults With Disabilities ◽

Complex Needs ◽

Need Of Care

This exploratory study investigated caregiving and interdependencies in families of frail older case management clients who coreside with younger individuals in need of care. Analyses were based on interviews with 78 older adults recruited from a large urban case management program. To be eligible for the study, the older adult had to coreside with an individual under age 60 who had disabilities or chronic health problems and/or with minors. Results indicated that the majority of older adults were primary caregivers for at least one younger individual. In a substantial number of families, the older adult depended on a younger adult with disabilities for primary care. Older adults who lived with both younger adults with disabilities and minors experienced more negative affect than those who lived with only one of these two kinds of younger individuals. Positive affect among elders living with younger adults with disabilities was positively related to the number of formal services received by the younger adults. The implications of these findings for service delivery to families with complex needs for care are discussed.

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Social Processes in Late-Life Suicide

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2114 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 621-621

Author(s):

Elizabeth Necka

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Late Life ◽

The United States ◽

Older Adulthood ◽

Mental Health Funding ◽

Perceived Social Isolation ◽

Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Abstract Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, and social isolation – either real or perceived – is one of the primary risk factors for a suicidal attempt (Calati et al.,2019). Late adulthood is characterized by both rapid increases in both social isolation (Cornwell,2011) and loneliness (i.e., perceived social isolation; Hawkley, Wroblewski, Kaiser, Luhmann, & Schumm,2019), which enhance risk of mental disorders (Santini et al.,2020), as well as by suicide rates that are higher than in any other age group (SAMSHA,2017). What are the mechanisms by which social isolation confers risk (and social connection confers resilience) to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in aging, and what promising interventions exist for addressing social impediments in older adulthood? What barriers exist to providing services to socially isolated older adults contemplating suicide, and what are the public health implications of social isolation and suicide in late life? This symposium will feature talks on the role of social motivation and empathy in the development of (or resilience to) suicidal ideation in older adults, on interventions that draw upon the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide and utilize social engagement and digital ‘mHealth’ services to reduce late-life social isolation, depression, and suicidal ideation, and on National Institute of Mental Health funding priorities and efforts to address suicide. After attending this session, participants will be able to articulate mechanisms by which social isolation confers risk for suicide in older adulthood and to identify opportunities and obstacles for effective intervention implementation.

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Reactive, Agentic, Apathetic, or Challenged? Aging, Emotion, and Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnaa196 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nathaniel A Young ◽

Christian E Waugh ◽

Alyssa R Minton ◽

Susan T Charles ◽

Claudia M Haase ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Older Adult ◽

Age Differences ◽

Well Being ◽

Emotional Experiences ◽

Younger Adults ◽

And Coping ◽

Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objectives Advanced age is generally associated with improved emotional well-being, but the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed a global stressor that gravely threatened the physical well-being and ostensibly challenged the emotional well-being of older adults disproportionately. The current study investigated differences in emotional experiences and coping strategies between younger and older adults during the pandemic, and whether these differences were accounted for by age differences in appraisal of the pandemic. Research Design and Methods We asked younger (n = 181) and older adult (n = 176) participants to report their stress, appraisals the pandemic, emotions, and the ways in which they were coping with the pandemic. Results Results indicated that older adults experienced less stress and less negative affect and used greater problem-focused coping and less avoidant coping in response to the pandemic than younger adults. Further, age differences in affect and coping were partially accounted for by age differences in appraisals of the pandemic. Discussion and Implications Despite their objectively higher risk of illness and death due to the pandemic, older adults experienced less negative affect and used more agentic coping strategies than younger adults.

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Future Directions in Late Life Suicide Prevention

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.2190/3t4g-t5u2-q724-e0k8 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 37-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Amy Fiske ◽

Patrick Arbore

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Older Adult ◽

Suicide Prevention ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Community Outreach ◽

Late Life ◽

Community Agencies ◽

Prevalence Of Depression ◽

Elderly Suicide

Late life suicide is characterized by less warning, higher lethality, and greater prevalence of depression and physical illness than suicide earlier in the lifespan. Suicidal older adults are more likely to seek help from a physician than through mental health channels, and suicide risk often remains undetected. Hopelessness is a prominent feature in older adult suicide. Traditional suicide hotlines receive few calls from older adults, and staff lack training in working with this age group. Despite the difficulties in preventing older adult suicide, however, opportunities exist. Psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological treatments for depression may be effective in suicidal older adults, although they have not yet been widely tested. Community agencies with specialized programs for older adults show promise. Results are presented from the evaluation of one such agency, the Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention. After receiving agency services, hopelessness improved among clients but not in a comparison group. There were no significant changes in depressive symptoms or life satisfaction. Recommendations for future preventive efforts include: use of medical contacts to screen for depression and suicide; assessment of suicide risk with even small elevations in depressive symptoms; consideration of physical health status and level of hopelessness in assessing suicide risk; research on effective psychotherapies with suicidal older adults; and support of innovative community outreach and intervention programs.

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Well-Being Factors That Relate to Facebook-Using Older Adults’ Perceived Social Support on Facebook

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1168 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 301-301

Author(s):

Travis Kadylak ◽

Shelia Cotten ◽

Amy Schuster

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Positive Association ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Research ◽

Fear Of Missing Out ◽

Facebook Use ◽

The U.S

Abstract The majority of literature on Facebook use and well-being focuses on younger demographics. The number older adults using Facebook continues to increase. Facebook use by older adults has been found to increase well-being and decrease feelings of depression. This study investigates the effect that perceived social support on Facebook may have on loneliness, depression, social support (offline), and fear of missing out (FOMO) for older adult Facebook users. Older adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. completed a Qualtrics survey (N=798). Participants were, on average, 74 years old. Perceived social support on Facebook had a positive association with social support, depression, and FOMO. The results suggest that among Facebook using older adults, higher levels of perceived social support on Facebook were associated with higher levels of social support, feelings of depression, and FOMO. Future research should investigate the possibility that depression could be driving perceived social support on Facebook.

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Talk or Walk? Gait Speed over Self-Report in Association with Cognitive Speed in Healthy Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000202 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 41-52

Author(s):

Matthew C. Costello ◽

Shane J. Sizemore ◽

Kimberly E. O’Brien ◽

Lydia K. Manning

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Gait Speed ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Report ◽

Subjective Report ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Relative Value ◽

Cognitive Speed ◽

Age Range

Abstract. This study explores the relative value of both subjectively reported cognitive speed and gait speed in association with objectively derived cognitive speed. It also explores how these factors are affected by psychological and physical well-being. A group of 90 cognitively healthy older adults ( M = 73.38, SD = 8.06 years, range = 60–89 years) were tested in a three-task cognitive battery to determine objective cognitive speed as well as measures of gait speed, well-being, and subjective cognitive speed. Analyses indicated that gait speed was associated with objective cognitive speed to a greater degree than was subjective report, the latter being more closely related to well-being than to objective cognitive speed. These results were largely invariant across the 30-year age range of our older adult sample.

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Refining Evidence-Based Treatments for Late-Life Depression

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000127 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 67-76

Author(s):

Grace C. Niu ◽

Patricia A. Arean

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Late Life ◽

Aging Population ◽

The United States ◽

Future Research ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Late Life Depression ◽

Evidence Based Treatments

The recent increase in the aging population, specifically in the United States, has raised concerns regarding treatment for mental illness among older adults. Late-life depression (LLD) is a complex condition that has become widespread among the aging population. Despite the availability of behavioral interventions and psychotherapies, few depressed older adults actually receive treatment. In this paper we review the research on refining treatments for LLD. We first identify evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for LLD and the problems associated with efficacy and dissemination, then review approaches to conceptualizing mental illness, specifically concepts related to brain plasticity and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoc). Finally, we introduce ENGAGE as a streamlined treatment for LLD and discuss implications for future research.

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Sex Difference in Self-Reported Sexual Functioning Among Frail Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1002 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 313-313

Author(s):

Brianne Olivieri-Mui ◽

Sandra Shi ◽

Ellen McCarthy ◽

Dae Kim

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Sexual Function ◽

Older Adult ◽

Sexual Functioning ◽

Social Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Adult Males ◽

Males And Females

Abstract Frailty may differentially impact how older adult males and females perceive sexual functioning, an important part of well-being. We assessed the level of frailty (robust, pre-frail, frail) for anyone with data on 11 sexual functioning questions asked in wave 2 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, 2010-2011 (n=2060). Questions covered five domains: overall sexual function (OSF), sexual function anxiety (SFA), changes in sexual function (CSF), erectile/vaginal dysfunction (EVD), and masturbation. Logistic regression identified sex differences in frailty and reporting worse sexual functioning. Linear regression predicted the number of domains reported as worse. Among males (n=1057), pre-frailty meant higher odds of reporting SFA (OR 1.8 95%CI 1.2-6.6), CSF (OR 1.7 95%CI 1.1-2.7), and EVD (OR 1.5 95%CI 1.0-2.2). Among females (n=1003), there was no difference in reporting by frailty. Females were more likely to report worse OSF (Robust: OR 7.4, 95%CI 4.8-11.4; Pre-frail: OR 6.2, 95%CI 3.9-9.9; Frail: OR 3.4 95%CI 1.7-6.6), but less likely to report SFA (Robust OR .3, 95%CI .2-.5; Pre-frail OR .2, 95%CI .1-.3; Frail OR .2 95%CI .1-.3). Pre-frail and frail females reported fewer domains as worse (Pre-frail coefficient -0.21 SE 0.09, Frail -0.43 SE 0.14). As frailty worsened, males reported more domains as worse (Pre-frail 0.24 SE 0.07, Frail 0.29 SE 0.08). Self-reported sexual functioning differs by sex at all levels of frailty, and reporting by males, but not females, changes with frailty. Providers should be aware that sexual functioning is of importance to both sexes despite varying degrees of frailty.

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