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Cited by 153Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesGrief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthAging, Health, and Disability

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 22 of the 23 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Loss of partner and suicide risks among oldest old: a population-based register study

Erlangsen, A.·2004·Age and Ageing
DOI 10.1093/ageing/afh128
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: while mortality among the oldest old has improved over recent decades, these improvements are not reflected in the suicide mortality of this age group. We do not know the reasons why the suicide mortality is still very high among the oldest old. OBJECTIVE: the aim is to analyse the impact that loss of a partner has on the suicide risks of the oldest old (80+) compared to younger age groups. SUBJECTS: the entire Danish population aged 50 during 1994-1998 (n = 1,978,527). METHODS: we applied survival analysis to calculate the changes in relative risk of suicide after a loss by using individual-level data. RESULTS: the majority of older persons who commit suicide are widowed, although only a relatively small proportion of the oldest old who commit suicide have experienced a recent loss of partner (men: 18%, women: 6%). In absolute terms, the oldest old men experience the highest increase in suicide risk immediately after the loss (15-fold; 95% CI 10.2-23.6) compared to middle-aged men who are still married. Oldest old men seem to suffer more from the loss and need longer time to recover than women. CONCLUSIONS: although a small proportion of oldest old who commit suicide have experienced a recent bereavement, there is a significant increase in the suicide risk during the first year after a bereavement, especially for men. However, the increased risk of suicide in the oldest old men may only in part be explained by the loss of a partner.

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Metadata

Authors
Erlangsen, A.
Affiliations
Max Planck Society (DE)
Corresponding author
Erlangsen, A.
ORCID
Erlangsen, A.
Venue
Age and Ageing
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2004-04-13
Volume
33
Issue
4
Pages
378-383
ISSN
  • 0002-0729 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-2834
DOI
10.1093/ageing/afh128
OpenAlex
W2079116212
Cited by
153
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 12
FWCI
4.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Age and Ageing (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (publishedVersion)
  • Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
Keywords
suicide, oldest old, bereavement, loss of a partner, widowhood, suicide risk, gender differences, middle-aged adults
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Bereavement, Denmark, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Suicide, Time Factors, Widowhood

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