Suicide Means Used by the Older Adults in Rural China: A Comparison Between Those Using Pesticides and Other Means

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 319-326
Author(s):  
Rong-Ting Zhu ◽  
Zhenyu Ma ◽  
Cunxian Jia ◽  
Liang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
History Of ◽  
At Home

Background: The most frequently used means of committing suicide was pesticide poisoning in rural China, yet little is known about the characteristics and risk factors for suicides committed with pesticides compared to those committed via other means in older adults. Methods: The participants were 242 older adults (aged 60 or older) who had committed suicide in the rural areas of 3 provinces (Shandong, Hunan, and Guangxi) in China. This study was conducted using the psychological autopsy (PA) method. Results: In univariate analyses, no statistically significant differences were found between those who committed suicide with pesticide or with other means in terms of demographic and clinical variables except age, prevalence of mental disorders, suicidal intent, number of recent life events, social support, hopelessness, impulsivity, and depressive symptoms ( P > .05); age, history of suicide attempts, having pesticides available at home, the total number of life events, and the number of long-term life events were significantly different ( P < .05) between the 2 groups. In multivariate logistic regression model, the factors associated with committing suicide with pesticides were the availability of pesticides at home (odds ratio [OR] = 3.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.99-6.08) and the number of long-term life events (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78-0.97). Conclusion: The older adults who committed suicide by pesticides and those using other means are probably the same population. The main determinant of choosing pesticides as suicide means was likely the availability of pesticides at home. Suicide risk among older adults might be reduced by placing appropriate restrictions on access to pesticides.

scholarly journals A Case Control Study of Suicides in China with and Without Mental Disorder

Crisis ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Liang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
History Of ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Control Study

Background: Chinese suicide samples have provided opportunities to study the differences between suicides with and without psychiatric diagnoses. Aims: To examine the differences between suicides with and without mental disorders. Methods: Sixty-six suicides and 66 living controls were studied with psychological autopsy interviews in rural China. Those who died by suicide with (n = 45) and without (n = 21) mental disorders were compared on demographic characteristics, suicidal behavior, social support, life events, and depressive symptoms (as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, HAMD). Results: Suicides with and without psychiatric diagnoses had significant differences in many demographic and social factors. In comparison with suicides with psychiatric diagnoses, suicides without psychiatric diagnoses were younger, were better educated, had higher income, were more likely to kill themselves using pesticides or other poisons, were less likely to have a history of prior suicide attempt, had less long-term life events and more recent life events, and scored lower on HAMD. Conclusions: These two groups might be from two different populations. This finding has important implications for more effective and targeted suicide prevention strategies in China.

scholarly journals Completed Suicide With Violent and Non-violent Methods by the Elderly in Rural China: A Psychological Autopsy Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong-Ting Zhu ◽  
Zhen-Yu Ma ◽  
Cun-Xian Jia ◽  
Liang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Completed Suicide

Background: Late-life suicide is a severe public health problem in rural China; however, knowledge regarding the specific characteristics and risk factors for completed suicide via violent and non-violent methods among elderly individuals in rural China is limited.Methods: Subjects aged 60 years or older were selected from rural areas in Shandong, Hunan, and Guangxi provinces in China. This study was a 1:1 matched case-control design conducted by using the psychological autopsy method.Results: According to the univariate analyses, the presence of mental disorder, higher degree of depression, loneliness, lack of social support, hopelessness, impulsivity, and increased quantity of life events were associated with suicide in both violent and non-violent methods. For violent suicide, another risk factor was the lack of pesticides at home. For non-violent suicide, other risk factors were not currently married, family suicide history, and alcohol use disorder (P &lt; 0.05). Variables that remained in the logistic regression model were the severity of depressive symptoms for both violent and non-violent suicide. For non-violent suicide, the degree of hopelessness was another independent risk factor. In addition, violent suicides were more likely to lack pesticides at home, choose the spring season and have an increased quantity of life events than those who died by suicide via non-violent methods.Conclusion: The major risk factor for both violent and non-violent suicide was the severity of depressive symptoms. Suicide prevention measures that focus on depression among this vulnerable population are urgently needed. Moreover, the characteristics of suicides via violent methods differed from those via non-violent methods among elderly individuals. Suicide prevention efforts should be tailored to the specific characteristics of the different suicide methods utilized by older adults in rural areas.

scholarly journals The pattern of life events preceding suicide among the elderly in rural China: a national case-control psychological autopsy study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiqing Mo ◽  
Guojun Wang ◽  
Cunxian Jia ◽  
Lu Niu ◽  
Liang Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Terminal Illness ◽  
Rural China ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Life Event

Abstract Background Life events associated with an increased risk of suicide and prior to the suicide in China different from those in Western countries. But there is a lack of summary of the elderly life event patterns on Chinese suicide. The aim of this study was to identify the pattern of life events which precede suicide among the elderly in a Chinese culture context.Methods A two-stage stratified cluster sampling method was used in order to select research sites and 12 counties were randomly selected to recruit cases within three provinces. A case-control psychological autopsy study was then adopted. The study population consisted of 242 suicide cases each with an age of 60 and above, and 242 age-, sex-, and location-matched community living controls. During face-to-face interviews, the information from subjects and proxy informants was obtained by standardized trained investigators. Life events were measured using a 46-item Life Event Scale for the Elderly (LESE).Results About 99.6% of suicides and 88.4% of controls resulted from the experience of at least one life event. The elderly who had committed suicide experienced more long-term life events. The top three most frequent life events were being diagnosed with chronic disease, hospitalization, and being diagnosed with terminal illness. Women more often experienced the death of spouse, while men experienced more hospitalization, and were more likely to be diagnosed with terminal illness and suffer family poverty. The risk of suicide among the elderly who experience life events was 12.8 times higher than that in people who did not experience life events. The elderly who were having unstable marital status, suffering from physical diseases and diagnosed with mental disorders, are more likely to commit suicide.Conclusions Understanding the pattern of life events which precede suicides among the elderly in rural China plays an important role in the prevention of suicide. Several different long-term life events can lead to suicidal behavior, and the effect of life events on suicide is cumulative. Being diagnosed with a serious disease may be one of the risk signals for suicide among the elderly.

scholarly journals The pattern of stressful life events prior to suicide among the older adults in rural China: a national case-control psychological autopsy study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiqing Mo ◽  
Zhenyu Ma ◽  
Guojun Wang ◽  
Cunxian Jia ◽  
Lu Niu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Terminal Illness ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Event ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Rural Older Adults

Abstract Background There is a lack of evidence concerning the stressful life events experienced prior to suicide which may be associated with an increased suicide risk among Chinese rural older adults. The aim of this study was to identify the pattern of stressful life events prior to suicide among the older adults in China. Methods Twelve counties were randomly selected using two-stage stratified cluster sampling method. Suicide cases aged 60 years and older (n = 242) were collected from those counties from June 2014 to September 2015. Matched living controls were selected 1:1 with suicide cases by age, gender, and location. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews by a psychological autopsy method. The Life Event Scale for the Elderly was used to measure the stressful life events prior to suicide/interviews. Results Approximately 99.6% of suicide cases and 88.4% of controls experienced at least one stressful life event. The suicide group experienced more long-term stressful life events than recent stressful life events. The top three most frequent stressful life events for the suicide group were being diagnosed with chronic disease, hospitalization, and being diagnosed with terminal illness. More female suicide cases experienced the death of a spouse, while more males experienced hospitalization, diagnosis with terminal illness and family poverty. Experiencing at least one stressful life event, an unstable marital status, physical diseases and mental disorders were shown to increase the risk of suicide. Conclusions Stressful life events were common for the rural older adults, especially long-term stressful life events. The experience of at least one stressful life event can increase suicide risk among this population. More attention should be paid to the rural older adults who experienced more long-term stressful life events and health related life events.

scholarly journals The pattern of stressful life events prior to suicide among the older adults in rural China: a national case-control psychological autopsy study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiqing Mo ◽  
Zhenyu Ma ◽  
Guojun Wang ◽  
Cunxian Jia ◽  
Lu Niu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Terminal Illness ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Event ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Rural Older Adults

Abstract Background: There is a lack of evidence concerning the stressful life events experienced prior to suicide which may be associated with an increased suicide risk among Chinese rural older adults. The aim of this study was to identify the pattern of stressful life events prior to suicide among the older adults in China.Methods: Twelve counties were randomly selected using two-stage stratified cluster sampling method. Suicide cases aged 60 years and older (n =242) were collected from those counties from June 2014 to September 2015. Matched living controls were selected 1:1 with suicide cases by age, gender, and location. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews by a psychological autopsy method. The Life Event Scale for the Elderly was used to measure the stressful life events prior to suicide/interviews.Results: Approximately 99.6% of suicide cases and 88.4% of controls experienced at least one stressful life event. The suicide group experienced more long-term stressful life events than recent stressful life events. The top three most frequent stressful life events for the suicide group were being diagnosed with chronic disease, hospitalization, and being diagnosed with terminal illness. More female suicide cases experienced the death of a spouse, while more males experienced hospitalization, diagnosis with terminal illness and family poverty. Experiencing at least one stressful life event, an unstable marital status, physical diseases and mental disorders were shown to increase the risk of suicide.Conclusions: Stressful life events were common for the rural older adults, especially long-term stressful life events. The experience of at least one stressful life event can increase suicide risk among this population. More attention should be paid to the rural older adults who experienced more long-term stressful life events and health related life events.

scholarly journals Social Integration and Depression of Older Adults in Rural China: Do Family or Friendship Ties Make a Difference?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 580-580
Author(s):  
Dan Zhang ◽  
Zhiyong Lin ◽  
Shuzhuo Li
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Important Determinant ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Family Ties ◽  
Relevant Evidence

Abstract Despite increasing acknowledgement that social integration/isolation is an important determinant of health in later life, relevant evidence for older adults in less developed social contexts is still limited. Data derived from 2015 and 2018 waves of a longitudinal study of 976 older adults, aged 60 and older, living in rural areas of Anhui Province, China. We analyzed how the level of social integration/isolation (measured as family and friendship ties) impacted depressive symptoms of older adults. Our results showed that more than half of older adults in our sample were either isolated from family or friends. Further analysis demonstrated that older people who were isolated from friends were more depressed in comparison with those who were closely integrated into friendship ties, while no such association was found in relation to family ties. Assessments of social integration among older adults should account for both family and friendship ties.

The associations between family characteristics and depressive symptoms in older adults: a community-based survey in rural China

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1226-1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanhong Gong ◽  
Xiaopiao Wen ◽  
Chaoping Guan ◽  
Zhiqing Wang ◽  
Yuan Liang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Negative Life Event ◽  
The Past

ABSTRACTBackground: The aim of the current study was to investigate the associations between family characteristics and depressive symptoms, and provide new evidence and recommendations for prevention and intervention in the depressive symptoms of older adults.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted door-to-door, utilizing a sample of 1,317 individuals aged 60 years and above in rural China. The five family characteristic variables recorded were: living with spouse, living with descendant, support of family members, self-reported family economic status in the previous year, and family-related negative life events that occurred anytime in the past with a continuous psychological effect during the past 12 months. Gender, age, years of schooling, and self-rated physical health status were taken as potential confounders. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine independent effects on depressive symptoms.Results: In addition to the potential confounders, only family-related negative life events, support of family members, and self-reported family economic status had significant effects on depressive symptoms in older adults. Experiencing a family-related negative life event was the most significant variable (OR = 11.70, 95% CI: 7.72–17.73), the second was support of family members (OR = 6.93, 95% CI: 3.26–14.70), while family economic status was less important than support of family members (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.08–5.25).Conclusion: This study, from the perspective of family characteristics on depressive symptoms in older adults, showed a strong correlation between being exposed to harmful family environments and depressive symptoms among the elderly. Efforts to address family risk factors and strengthen family cohesiveness deserve a higher priority, given the importance of these factors, compared with other efforts such as promoting economic development.

Older Adults’ Ways of Dealing With Daily Life While Living With Long-Term Musculoskeletal Pain at Home

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 685-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharina Gillsjö ◽  
Donna Schwartz-Barcott ◽  
Ingrid Bergh ◽  
Lars Owe Dahlgren
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
At Home

scholarly journals Loneliness, hopelessness and suicide in later life: a case–control psychological autopsy study in rural China

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Niu ◽  
Cunxian Jia ◽  
Zhenyu Ma ◽  
Guojun Wang ◽  
Bin Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Tree Model ◽  
Elderly Suicide

Abstract Aims Loneliness is increasingly recognised as a serious public health issue worldwide. However, there is scarce research addressing the association between loneliness and suicide in older adults in rural China. We set out to examine loneliness and other psychosocial factors in elderly suicide cases and explore their interaction effects. Methods Using a 1 : 1 matched case–control design, data were collected from 242 elderly suicide cases and 242 living community controls by psychological autopsy method in rural China, including demographic characteristics, loneliness, depression, hopelessness and social support. The chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) tree model and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to explore the relationships of these factors and suicide. Results The CHAID tree model showed that loneliness, hopelessness and depressive symptoms were closely associated with completed suicide and that loneliness and hopelessness interacted with each other. The result of multivariable logistic regression showed that individuals who were unemployed [odds ratio (OR) = 2.344; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.233–4.457], living alone (OR = 2.176; 95% CI: 1.113–4.254), had lower levels of subjective social support (OR = 2.185; 95% CI: 1.243–3.843), experienced depressive symptoms (OR = 6.700; 95% CI: 3.405–13.182), showed higher levels of hopelessness (OR = 7.253; 95% CI: 3.764–13.974) and felt higher levels of hopelessness × higher levels of loneliness (OR = 2.446; 95% CI: 1.089–5.492) were significantly associated with an elevated suicide risk in older people in rural China. Conclusions Regular evaluation of loneliness, hopelessness and depression can help detect older adults who are at risk of committing suicide. Interventions should target social support systems, particularly among people living alone, to alleviate feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. Treating depression is also key to preventing suicide among elderly people in rural China.

Suicide attempts preceding completed suicide

1998 ◽  
Vol 173 (6) ◽  
pp. 531-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erkki T. Isometsä ◽  
Jouko K. Lönnqvist
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
History Of

BackgroundThis study investigated three questions with major implications for suicide prevention: the sensitivity of the history of previous suicide attempt(s) as an indicator of suicide risk, the time interval from a preceding suicide attempt to the fatal one, and switching of suicide methods by those eventually completing suicide.MethodThe lifetime history of suicide attempts and the methods the victims (n=1397) used were examined in a nationwide psychological autopsy study comprising all suicides in Finland within a 12-month research period in 1987–1988.ResultsOverall, 56% of suicide victims were found to have died at their first suicide attempt, more males (62%) than females (38%). In 19% of males and 39% of females the victim had made a non-fatal attempt during the final year. Of the victims with previous attempts, 82% had used at least two different methods in their suicide attempts (the fatal included).ConclusionsMost male and a substantial proportion of female suicides die in their first suicide attempt, a fact that necessitates early recognition of suicide risk, particularly among males. Recognition of periods of high suicide risk on the grounds of recent non-fatal suicide attempts is likely to be important for suicide prevention among females. Subjects completing suicide commonly switch from one suicide method to another, a finding that weakens but does not negate the credibility of restrictions on the availability of lethal methods as a preventive measure.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document