Late-Life Suicidal Ideation in Nordic and Central-European Countries
Gender Differences and Risk Factors from the SHARE Study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17564008 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kristina Gundersen (0009-0000-8038-4435, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, corresponding author), Dagmar Dzúrová (0000-0003-0530-4997, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague), Ladislav Csémy (0000-0001-8732-4232, National Institute of Mental Health) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-06 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0169-3816 • E-ISSN: 1573-0719 |
| Publisher | Springer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10823-026-09576-x |
| PMID | 42091748 |
| OpenAlex | W7160445023 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 41 |
Older adults are disproportionately affected by suicide, yet suicidal ideation in this population remains underexplored. This study examines gender-specific risk factors and regional differences in late-life suicidal ideation across Nordic and Visegrad countries, with loneliness as a key social determinant. This study analysed data from 11,712 participants aged 50 years and older from seven European countries (Nordic and Visegrad regions), drawing on Wave 8 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Logistic regression was used to examine gender- and region-specific associations with late-life suicidal ideation. Increased loneliness was strongly associated with higher odds of suicidal thoughts in both men and women. Higher education acts as a protective factor, with middle and high education reducing risk in men, and high education reducing risk in women. Living with a partner lowers suicidal thoughts for women but not for men. Age showed no consistent association, and Nordic men show a lower risk compared to their Visegrad counterparts, whereas no regional differences observed for women. Social and contextual factors, especially loneliness, education, and partnership, shape late-life suicidal ideation in gender- and region-specific ways, highlighting the need for targeted preventive interventions
Logistic regression · Loneliness · Odds · Odds ratio · Poison control · Population · Suicidal ideation · Suicide prevention · Health disparities and outcomes · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Loneliness as a specific risk factor for depressive symptoms
The Three-Step Theory (3ST)
Suicide
Loneliness as a predictor of suicidal ideation and behaviour
The Gender Paradox in Suicide
The interpersonal theory of suicide.
A Caring State for all Older People?
Post-Communist Welfare Pathways
Diversity and Solidarity in Denmark and Sweden
Understanding differences in health behaviors by education
The role of welfare regimes in the relationship between childhood economic stress and adult health
The Euro-D Measure of Depressive Symptoms in the Aging Population
Passive Suicidal Ideation in Older Adults from 12 European Countries
Democracy and welfare in hard times
Nordic eldercare – Weak universalism becoming weaker
Loneliness as a Public Health Issue
Welfare state regimes and differences in self-perceived health in Europe
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |