Citation

Bauer MN, Leenaars AA, Berman AL, Jobes DA, Dixons JF, Bibb JL. Arch. Suicide Res. 1997; 3(2): 91-108.

Affiliation

Bauer, M.N., Intermed. Intensive Treatment Prog., Eastern State Hospital, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8791, United States

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811119708258261

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Older adults are the developmental age group across the lifespan at highest risk for suicide in many Western countries. Given the extent of the problem, the paucity of integrated and sound empirical research in this area is remarkable. Often the literature attributes the death to one or two variables (e.g., illness). However, a lifespan developmental approach calls for conceptualizing suicide in late adulthood from a multivariate perspective. This paper outlines two studies that were designed to investigate the suicide notes of the elderly in an adult lifespan perspective. The main conclusion is in support of a multivariate approach. There are more similarities than differences in suicide behaviour across the adult lifespan, although some differences were noted. The differences in the elderly appear to be issues of the inability to cope with the vicissitudes of aging (e.g., illness, isolation). It is concluded that future research is warranted.