Risk Factors For Suicide Ideation Among Elderly People Living Alone Of The Rural Area Of Anhui Province

Objective To research the current situation of suicide ideation among elderly people living alone in the rural area of Anhui province, and to research the difference of demographic characteristics, activities of daily living, anxiety, social support, depression and quality of life in participants with and without suicidal ideation. Investigate influence factors of suicidal ideation among elderly people living alone and provide a theoretical basis for suicide prevention.Methods 695 elderly people living alone of the rural area in Ma’anshan city were selected by using cluster sampling. Following the principle of informed consent, after obtaining population data of elderly people, with the help of village doctors, a household survey was conducted. Socio-demographic data of participants were collected. Beck scale for suicide ideation, activities of daily living scale, social support scale, anxiety scale, geriatric depression scale, and quality of life were used to assess the suicidal ideation of participants. T test, chi-square test and binary logistical regression were used to statistical analyses.Results 695 rural elderly people living alone were included, there were 164 people with suicidal ideation, and the incidence of suicidal ideation was 23.6%. Chi-square test and T test revealed that the main relevant factors were age(χ2=8.591, P=0.014), physical status(χ2=21.162,P<0.001), economic status(χ2=29.685,P<0.001), number of chronic diseases(χ2=11.246, P=0.010), pain(χ2=24.582, P<0.001), activities of daily living(χ2=155.212, P<0.001), anxiety(χ2=120.68, P<0.001), social support(Objective:t=3.435, P=0.001; Subjective: t=2.623, P=0.009; Availability: t=2.266, P=0.024) and quality of life(Physical: t=14.062, p<0.001; Physical: t=21.625, P<0.001; Social relations: t=10.572, P<0.001; environmental: t=14.423, P<0.001) and depression(χ2=226.242, P<0.001). Multi-variable analysis showed that activities of daily living(OR=2.453, 95%CI=1.390-4.331), depression(OR=2.354, 95%CI=1.305-4.247) and anxiety(OR=5.153, 95%CI=1.546-17.18) were risk factors of suicide ideation; physiological(OR=0.973, 95%CI=0.949-0.998, P=0.037) and psychological fields(OR=0.884, 95%CI=0.856-0.913) of life quality in high scores are protection factors of suicide ideation.Conclusion The incidence of suicidal ideation is high in Ma’anshan city. Activities of daily living disabilities, depression and anxiety are risk factors of suicidal ideation; physiological and psychological fields of life quality in high scores are protection factors of suicidal ideation. The targeted interventions should be taken according to the relevant factors to reduce the suicidal ideation occurrence and development of rural elderly people living alone.