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Attachment anxiety, depression, and perceived social support: a moderated mediation model of suicide ideation among the elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2020

Awirut Oon-arom Open the ORCID record for Awirut Oon-arom [Opens in a new window] ,
Tinakon Wongpakaran ,
Pimolpun Kuntawong  and
Nahathai Wongpakaran Open the ORCID record for Nahathai Wongpakaran [Opens in a new window]
Awirut Oon-arom
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Tinakon Wongpakaran*
Affiliation:
Psychotherapy Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Pimolpun Kuntawong
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Nahathai Wongpakaran
Affiliation:
Geriatric Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Nahathai Wongpakaran, Geriatric Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intawaroros Rd., Tambon Sriphum, Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai50200, Kingdom of Thailand. Phone: +66 53 935422 ext 320; Fax: +66 53 935426. Email: nahathai.wongpakaran@cmu.ac.th
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Abstract

Objectives:

Issues concerning the association among attachment anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation among the elderly have rarely been explored. The present study investigated the relationship among attachment anxiety, depression and perceived support concerning suicidal ideation among older people.

Design:

Cross-sectional study

Setting:

Tertiary care settings

Participants:

The authors recruited 191 elderly patients from 10 tertiary care settings in Thailand

Measurements:

Participants provided data on their suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt using Module C of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Their attachment anxiety was assessed using the revised Experience of Close Relationship questionnaire (ECR-R-18), while their level of depression was investigated using the Geriatric Depression Scale. In addition, their perception of being supported was ascertained using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. We performed two mediation analyses and moderation analyses separately using the product of coefficients approach. First, we created a mediation model to examine the role of attachment anxiety and depression on suicidal ideation. Second, a moderated mediation model was created to explore the relationship of perceived social support as a moderator of depression.

Results:

We found that depression significantly mediated the association between attachment anxiety and suicidal ideation. The association between depression and suicidal ideation was moderated by the level of perceived social support.

Conclusion:

Findings of this study may broaden our understanding of how suicidal ideation develops among the elderly and further stimulate future research exploring the interaction of positive and negative factors of suicidality among the elderly. Implications of the findings were also discussed.

Keywords

Attachment anxietysuicidal ideationmoderated mediationelderly
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 33 , Special Issue 2: Issue Theme: Schizophrenia and Depression in Older Adults , February 2021 , pp. 169 - 178
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2020

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