Elderly Suicides and Dependency Ratios
Author Information
Author(s): Ajit Shah
Primary Institution: International School for Communities, Rights and Inclusion, University of Central Lancashire
Hypothesis
Is there a positive correlation between elderly dependency ratios and elderly suicide rates across different countries?
Conclusion
The study confirms a robust positive correlation between elderly dependency ratios and elderly suicide rates.
Supporting Evidence
- Significant positive correlations were found for both sexes in the elderly age-bands.
- The study used data from the World Health Organization.
- The findings confirm earlier studies on the relationship between elderly suicide rates and dependency ratios.
Takeaway
The more elderly people there are compared to younger people, the higher the suicide rates among the elderly seem to be.
Methodology
A cross-national study using one-year averages of five years of data on elderly suicide rates and dependency ratios.
Potential Biases
Potential under-reporting of suicides and varying legal definitions of suicide across countries may bias results.
Limitations
Data availability varied by country, and cultural factors affecting suicide rates were not formally measured.
Participant Demographics
Data included elderly populations aged 65 years and older from 85 countries.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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