Article Review #3 Terri Lawrence

5/23/11 Psych 1101, T/R, 0800

Suicidal Ideation Among the Elderly: Personal Variables, Stress and Social Support Maria Mireault and Anton F. de Man Social Behavior and Personality 1996, Vol. 24 Issue 4, Pgs 385-392

1. What was the major purpose or problem described in this article? The suicidal predictors that are shown in the elderly are rarely independent. It is most often a combination of factors that leads the elderly to suicide. 2. What, if any, were the hypotheses or research questions? This study aimed to identify some of the more easily identifiable predictors among the elderly. 3. What sample was used in this research? The sample used was 104 men and women ranging in age from 65 to 100 years old. Almost half were married and all lived either in their own home or a senior residence/nursing home. 4. What types of methods of data collection were used? The respondents were given a variety of questionnaires to assess their feeling on a variety of topics including, suicidal ideation, self-esteem, depression, life stress and social support. 5. What were the results and conclusions of this research? Researchers concluded that the elderly who are more likely to commit suicide are depressed, feel isolated and not satisfied with the social support they receive, perceive their health as less than average and consume less alcohol than their peers. They are also more likely to be a man living alone or in a senior center. 6. What is your opinion or reaction to this? I found the results of this research to be almost what I would have guessed from the beginning. That suicidal ideation would be most prevalent in someone who was depressed, lonely and in poor health, or at least perceived themselves to be in poor health. I was surprised to find that they consumed less alcohol than others. While it seems like they used very thorough questionnaires and I feel the results are valid, I found my experience to be different. I chose this topic because I know a woman who committed suicide at age 62. She was married for many years and active in her church. She did have some hardships over the course of her life yet she always appeared to be happy. I guess sometimes you just never know.