Do meaning in life and purpose in life protect against suicide ideation among community-residing older adults?

Abstract

Theory, research, and clinical practice suggest that perceptions of meaning in life (MIL) and purpose in life (PIL) may enhance mental health and well-being and protect against suicide risk among older adults. In this study, we investigated cross-sectional associations among MIL, PIL, and suicide ideation in community-residing older adults recruited into a longitudinal study of risk and resiliency to the onset and/or exacerbation of late-life depression and suicide ideation. A total of 173 adults, 65years or older (M=73.9, SD=6.1, Range: 65–93years) completed a demographics questionnaire and measures of suicide ideation and associated risk (depressive symptom severity and social hopelessness) and potential resiliency factors (MIL, PIL, and subjective well-being). Zero-order correlation coefficients supported hypothesized positive associations between suicide ideation and the risk factors and negative associations among suicide ideation, MIL, PIL, and subjective well-being. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that MIL significantly protected against suicide ideation controlling for the risk factors and the additional resiliency factors, replicating and extending our previous findings among middle-aged clinical and heterogeneous older adult samples. MIL further interacted significantly with depressive symptom severity in protecting against suicide ideation; however, PIL did not. Study findings thus add to a growing body of literature suggesting that perceptions of MIL may play a critical role in conferring resiliency to contemplations of suicide among older adults.