Elderly Suicide Rates Across Countries
Author Information
Author(s): Ajit Shah
Primary Institution: University of Central Lancashire
Hypothesis
What are the cross-national patterns and associations of elderly suicide rates with sex and age bands?
Conclusion
The study found that regional and cross-national patterns for elderly suicide rates were consistent with previous findings, indicating robust results.
Supporting Evidence
- Elderly suicide rates were lowest in Caribbean and Arabic countries.
- Elderly suicide rates were highest in central and eastern European countries.
- The study used a one-year average of five consecutive years of data to reduce bias.
- Suicide rates were significantly higher in males than females for both elderly age bands.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many elderly people commit suicide in different countries and found that some places have a lot more than others.
Methodology
The study calculated one-year average suicide rates for elderly males and females across different countries using data from the WHO over five consecutive years.
Potential Biases
Cultural and religious factors may lead to under-reporting of suicides, and some suicides may be misclassified as undetermined causes.
Limitations
Data was not available from all countries, and the validity of the data was unclear due to varying legal criteria for suicide proof and under-reporting.
Participant Demographics
Elderly individuals aged 65 years and older from 97 countries.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.00001
Statistical Significance
p<0.00001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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