Citation

Hirsch JK, Duberstein PR, Chapman B, Lyness JM. Psychol. Aging 2007; 22(2): 380-385.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, US. jkhgla@rit.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/0882-7974.22.2.380

PMID

17563193

Abstract

Suicide is a significant public health problem for older adults. Identification of protective factors associated with reduced risk is important. The authors examined the association of positive affect and suicide ideation in 462 primary care patients ages 65 and older. Positive affect distinguished suicide ideators from nonideators, after controlling for age, gender, depression, negative affect, illness burden, activity, sociability, cognitive functioning, and physical functioning. There was a trend toward age moderation of this relationship. Clinical and theoretical formulations of late-life suicide should consider the role of positive affect, including the possibility that its protective effects grow more pronounced with age.

Language: en