Negative life events and self-harm among the elderly: Result from a survey of 7070 people aged≥60 in China

• Published in: Psychiatry research 2021-04, Vol.298, p.113727-113727, Article 113727
• Main Authors: Hong, Zhuang, Zhang, Hongjing, Xu, Lingzhong, Zhou, Jinling, Kong, Fanlei, Li, Jiajia, Hu, Fangfang, Gao, Zhaorong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Elderly; Loneliness; Negative life events; Risk factors; Self-harm; Suicide
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113727

•Elderly who have experienced negative life events are more likely to self-harm.•The association is largely explained by loneliness and economic status.•Interventions to prevent self-harm among elderly should take these factors into account. Negative life events have been reported as a risk factor for elderly self-harm. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between negative life events and self-harm in a large sample of people aged 60 and older, and explore the role of some previously identified influential factors in this relationship. Multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to select the elderly people over 60 years old in Shandong, China. Information were collected through face-to-face interviews. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used for initial analysis. Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method was used for mediating effect analysis. A total of 7070 participants were included in the study, 160 reported they had a history of self-harm (2.3%), 756 reported they had negative life event experience (10.7%). After model adjustment, the association between negative life events, loneliness, economic status and self-harm was still statistically significant. Mediation analysis showed that the association is explained by loneliness (proportion of mediation 48.86%), self-rated economic status (16.13%). Negative life events, loneliness and economic status were associated with self-harm among the older adults. Loneliness and economic status may play an intermediary role in the relationship between negative life events and self-harm, especially loneliness. More psychological and social functions intervention strategies and prevention measures on the self-harm of the elderly should be provided for the elderly who have experienced negative life events.