Personal debt and suicidal ideation.
Psychol Med
; 41(4): 771-8, 2011 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20550757
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Personal debt is one of many factors associated with anxiety, depression and suicidality. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between personal debt and suicidal ideation in the context of sociodemographic factors, employment and income, lifestyle behaviours, and recently experienced traumatic events.METHOD:
Interviews were conducted with a random probability sample comprising 7461 respondents for the third national survey of psychiatric morbidity of adults in England. Fieldwork was carried out throughout 2007. The prevalence of suicidal thoughts in the past week, past year and lifetime was assessed and current sources of debt were recorded.RESULTS:
In 2007, 4.3% of adults in England had thought about taking their own life in the past 12 months, ranging from 1.8% of men aged ≥ 55 years to 7.0% of women aged 35-54 years. Those in debt were twice as likely to think about suicide after controlling for sociodemographic, economic, social and lifestyle factors. Difficulty in making hire purchase or mail order repayments and paying off credit card debt, in addition to housing-related debt (rent and mortgage arrears), was strongly associated with suicidal thoughts. Feelings of hopelessness partially mediated the relationship between debt and suicidal ideation.CONCLUSIONS:
The number of debts, source of the debt and reasons for debt are key correlates of suicidal ideation. Individuals experiencing difficulties in repaying their debts because they are unemployed or have had a relationship breakdown or have heavy caring responsibilities may require psychiatric evaluation in addition to debt counselling.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Fatores Socioeconômicos
/
Desemprego
/
Falência da Empresa
/
Ideação Suicida
/
Renda
/
Estilo de Vida
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2011
Tipo de documento:
Article