1st author, year, country

Aim

Design, measurements, analysis

Summary of outcomes

1) Cukrowicz et al. (2011)

USA

To test the association of perceived burdensomeness on suicidal ideation in older adults.

Cross-sectional

INQ, GSIS-SI, CESD, UCLA (study 1), BHS, SF-8, SPSS Version 17.0 (study 1). Descriptive statistics (study 2).

The results suggest that perceived burdensomeness accounts for significant variance in suicidal ideation, even after controlling for predictors such as depression, hopelessness and functional impairment.

2) Dennis et al. (2005) UK

To determine clinical factors that might help to identify older adults with depression who are most at risk of self-harm and suicide.

Design not specified

BDI, BHS, GDS, LEDS, SCS, SIS.

Statistical Package, version 10 Windows.

Social factors, hopelessness and depression in a group of older persons referred to primary care following an episode of self-harm compared with similarly aged persons with depression with no history of self-harm.

3) Harrison et al. (2010)

UK

To explore the relationship between suicidal thoughts/attempts, social support and chronic interpersonal difficulties.

Cross-sectional

BHS, BLS, CIRS-G, HRSD, ISEL, IIP, HRSD, SCID

SAS software version 9, Analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Suicidal depressed older persons reported the lowest levels of perceived social support (belonging, tangible support and self-esteem) and higher levels of chronic interpersonal difficulties (struggle against others and interpersonal hostility) compared with both non-suicidal depressed and non-depressed older persons.

4) Heisel & Flett (2008) CANADA

It was hypothesized that suicidal ideation was positively associated with depression and a number of self-reported health problems and negatively with domains of psychological wellbeing and meaning in life.

Cross-sectional

MMSE, GSIS

GDS, PWB, PIL, SNS Descriptive statistics, SPSS version 14.0 for Windows.

The main findings indicated that suicidal ideation was positively associated with depression and self-reported physical health problems and negatively with domains of psychological well-being including positive relations with others, self-acceptance and perceived meaning in life.

5) Jahn et al. (2011)

USA

It was hypothesized that perceived burdensomeness mediates the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in a community sample of older adults.

Design not specified

CES-D, SCS, BHS, GSIS, MSSI,

Descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations.

Perceived burdensomeness mediated the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation, accounting for 68.3% of the variance suicidal.

6) McLaren et al. (2007) AUSTRALIA

To examine the applicability of the compensatory, the risk-protective, the challenge and the protective-protective models of resiliency for the prediction of suicidal ideation associated with depression and sense of belonging among older adults.

Design not specified

ZD, SBI-33, GHQSS,

Descriptive statistics and regression analysis.

When sense of belonging (psychological) was the protective factor, the results indicated support for the risk-protective model for men and women as well as the compensatory model for women. In contrast, when sense of belonging (antecedents) was the protective factor, support was evident for the compensatory model for men and women as well as for the challenge model for women.

7) Mellqvist et al. (2011) SWEDEN

To examine the influence of social and health-related factors on low SOC in persons aged 70 years and over.

Case-control

MMSE, CPRS, GDS, CIRS-G, SOC,

Regression analysis.

There was a strong relationship between major depression and SOC. While the authors could show no relationship between severe physical illness and SOC, associations with social variables were demonstrated, including too little time spent with children, too little time spent with grandchildren and having moved within the past five years. These associations remained significant in regression models adjusted for sex, age and major depression.