Abstract
:Background:A positive correlation between elderly dependency ratios and elderly suicide rates has been observed using one-year cross-sectional data on elderly suicide rates.Methods:A cross-national study designed to replicate this positive correlation between elderly dependency ratios and elderly suicide rates was undertaken by: (i) using one-year average of five years data on suicide rates; and (ii) using more recent data on both elderly suicide rates and elderly dependency ratios. Data on elderly suicide rates, and the total number of elderly and young people was ascertained from the World Health Organization website.Results:The main findings were of significant positive correlations between elderly dependency ratios and suicide rates in both sexes in both the elderly age-bands (65-74 years and 75+ years).Conclusions:The replication of the positive correlations between elderly dependency ratios and elderly suicide rates by using one-year average of five years data on suicide rates suggests that this relationship is robust and accurate.
Highlights
Suicide rates among non-white Americans,[1] Indians, 2, 3, 4Arabs in Jordan,[5] men in Kuwait,[6] Malays in Singapore,[7]Indian immigrants to the United Kingdom,[8,9] and in some eastEuropean countries[10] decline with increasing age.Traditionally, in these societies the elderly are respected, held in high esteem and live in closely knit families, and this offers protection against loneliness and despair, which otherwise may lead to suicide.[11]
Lower elderly suicide rates are associated with reduction in the number of caregivers,[13,20,22] larger household size,[13,23] greater proportion of extended family
Data on elderly suicide rates for males and females in the age-bands 65-74 years and 75+ years were ascertained from the World Health Organisation (WHO) website
Summary
European countries[10] decline with increasing age In these societies the elderly are respected, held in high esteem and live in closely knit families, and this offers protection against loneliness and despair, which otherwise may lead to suicide.[11] These factors may explain the low elderly suicide rates in Thailand[12] and among. Results: The main findings were of significant positive correlations between elderly dependency ratios and suicide rates in both sexes in both the elderly age-bands (65-74 years and 75+ years). Conclusions: The replication of the positive correlations between elderly dependency ratios and elderly suicide rates by using one-year average of five years data on suicide rates suggests that this relationship is robust and accurate.
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