Citation

Fairweather AK, Anstey KJ, Rodgers B, Butterworth P. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 53.

Affiliation

Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Building 63, Eggleston Road, ACTON, 0200 Canberra, Australia. Kate.Fairweather@anu.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963933

Abstract

Background: Few studies have focused on factors that uniquely distinguish suicide attempters from suicide ideators. This study assesses the prevalence of suicide attempts among suicide ideators within a community sample; explores demographics, employment status, mental and physical health conditions, personality, life stresses and social environment as factors that may distinguish these groups; examines effects of age and gender upon suicide attempts and associated factors; and investigates the increase in suicide attempts when multiple factors related to this behaviour are present. Methods: Data were drawn from a community survey of 7,485 people in Canberra, Australia. A sub-sample of 522 suicide ideators is used for this study. Results: Logistic regression found that physical medical conditions (OR=1.95) and negative interactions with friends (OR=1.20) were associated with an increased likelihood of suicide attempts among suicide ideators. Physical medical conditions and mastery among men (OR=3.78, and 0.83, respectively) and not being employed for those aged 40-44 years (OR=8.94) were predictive of suicide attempts. Conclusions: Factors distinguishing those who attempt suicide from suicide ideators involve being unemployed, physical ill health and relationship difficulties. Contrary to expectation, this study found ideators and attempters experience comparable levels of depression and anxiety.

Language: en