Citation

Sun L, Zhou C. Compr. Psychiatry 2018; 82: 68-72.

Affiliation

School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China. Electronic address: zhouchengchao@sdu.edu.cn.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.01.008

PMID

29407361

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recently, an emerging group of studies has reported the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and suicidal ideation in the Western countries. However, this relationship is still unclear with controversial results, and we have little knowledge about this relationship in China which is one of few countries reported higher suicide rates.

METHODS: This study aims to analyze the association between BMI and suicidal ideation among seniors (≥60 years old) in Shandong, China. A total of 3313 seniors were included in the data analysis. Suicidal ideation, weight, height, socio-demographic and psychological variables were evaluated in this study. Logistic regression was conducted to explore the association between BMI and suicidal ideation among male and female seniors.

RESULTS: The results showed that 4.2% of the seniors reported suicidal ideation, and 3.4% for men, 4.9% for women. After controlling social-demographic variables, economic status, physical disease, social support and mental health, an inverse relationship between BMI and suicidal ideation was found for men, but not for women. Mental health was still an important factor associated with suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSION: The results inform health care professors that underweight in male seniors can be associated with higher risk of suicidal ideation in China.

Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Body mass index; China; Seniors; Suicidal ideation