A Comparison of Suicidal Thinking and Reasons for Living Among Younger and Older Adults

A cross-sectional design was used to examine age-related differences in suicidal thinking & reasons for living among younger & older adults. Volunteers completed the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation & the Reasons for Living Inventory. Findings indicated that older adults do not manifest suicidal ideation differently than younger adults. However, there does appear to be some age-related differences in reasons for not completing suicide. The older group reported moral objections & child-related concerns as stronger reasons for not committing suicide. An implication is that the identification of specific reasons that deter individuals from committing suicide may be clinically useful & provide some assistance in suicide prevention efforts. (23 refs.)