Siobhan T O'Dwyer1, Wendy Moyle1, Melanie Zimmer-Gembeck2, Diego De Leo3. 1. a Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Menzies Health Institute Queensland , Griffith University , Brisbane , Australia. 2. b School of Applied Psychology , Griffith University , Gold Coast , Australia. 3. c Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention , Griffith University, Mt. Gravatt , Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Two small studies have suggested that family carers of people with dementia may be a high-risk group for suicide. The objective of this study was to further explore the rate of suicidal ideation in a large sample of carers and identify psychosocial risk and protective factors. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 566 family carers. The survey included measures of suicidality, self-efficacy, physical health, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, optimism, burden, coping strategies, and social support. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of carers had contemplated suicide more than once in the previous year. There were univariate differences between suicidal and non-suicidal carers on self-efficacy, social support, coping, burden, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, optimism, reasons for living, and symptoms of dementia, as well as age and income management. In a multivariate model, age, depression, and reasons for living predicted suicidal ideation. In tests for mediation, satisfaction with social support and dysfunctional coping had indirect effects on suicidal ideation via depression. CONCLUSION: Family carers of people with dementia have high rates of suicidal ideation, with depression a risk factor and increasing age and reasons for living as protective factors. Depression and reasons for living should be targeted in interventions to reduce suicide risk in dementia carers.
OBJECTIVE: Two small studies have suggested that family carers of people with dementia may be a high-risk group for suicide. The objective of this study was to further explore the rate of suicidal ideation in a large sample of carers and identify psychosocial risk and protective factors. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 566 family carers. The survey included measures of suicidality, self-efficacy, physical health, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, optimism, burden, coping strategies, and social support. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of carers had contemplated suicide more than once in the previous year. There were univariate differences between suicidal and non-suicidal carers on self-efficacy, social support, coping, burden, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, optimism, reasons for living, and symptoms of dementia, as well as age and income management. In a multivariate model, age, depression, and reasons for living predicted suicidal ideation. In tests for mediation, satisfaction with social support and dysfunctional coping had indirect effects on suicidal ideation via depression. CONCLUSION: Family carers of people with dementia have high rates of suicidal ideation, with depression a risk factor and increasing age and reasons for living as protective factors. Depression and reasons for living should be targeted in interventions to reduce suicide risk in dementia carers.
Authors: Grace B McKee; Paul B Perrin; Yaneth Rodriguez-Agudelo; Silvia Leonor Olivera Plaza; Maria Cristina Quijano-Martinez; Duygu Kuzu; Chimdindu Ohayagha; Mickeal Pugh; Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla Journal: Rehabil Psychol Date: 2021-10-04
Authors: Karlijn J Joling; Siobhan T O'Dwyer; Cees M P M Hertogh; Hein P J van Hout Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2017-04-05 Impact factor: 3.485