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The relationship between elderly suicide rates and elderly dependency ratios: a cross-national study using data from the WHO data bank

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 October 2007

Ajit Shah ,
Mellisha Padayatchi  and
Kavita Das
Ajit Shah*
Affiliation:
Ageing, Ethnicity and Mental Health, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, U.K. and West London Mental Health NHS Trust, London, U.K.
Mellisha Padayatchi
Affiliation:
West London Mental Health NHS Trust, London, U.K.
Kavita Das
Affiliation:
West London Mental Health NHS Trust, London, U.K.
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Professor Ajit Shah, West London Mental Health NHS Trust, Uxbridge Road, Southall, Middlesex, UB1 3EU, U.K. Phone: +44 208 354 8140; Fax: +44 208 354 8898. Email: ajit.shah@wlmht.nhs.uk.
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Abstract

Background: Cultural factors may influence cross-national variations in elderly suicide rates.

Methods: A cross-national study examining the relationship between elderly suicide rates and elderly dependency ratios was conducted with the a priori unidirectional hypothesis that lower elderly dependency ratios (ratio of people over the age of 65 years to people under the age of 65 years) may imply a greater number of younger people being potentially available to provide support and respect to the elderly and to hold them in high esteem, and this would lead to a reduction in elderly suicide rates. Data on elderly suicide rates, and the total number of elderly and young people were ascertained from the World Health Organization website.

Results: Significant positive correlations were found between the natural logarithm of suicide rates, in both sexes in two elderly age-bands (65–74 years and 75+ years), and the elderly dependency ratio for males, females and both sexes combined.

Conclusions: The impact of elderly dependency ratios on elderly suicide rates may interact with and be modified and mediated through cultural factors. The contribution of cross-national differences in cultural factors on elderly suicide rates require further study by formally measuring cultural factors with validated instruments.

Keywords

cultural factorssuicideselderly suicides
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , June 2008 , pp. 596 - 604
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2008

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