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Relationship between Quantity and Frequency of Alcohol Use and Indices of Suicidal Behavior in an Elderly Australian Sample
Author(s) -
Pfaff Jon J.,
Almeida Osvaldo P.,
Witte Tracy K.,
Waesche Matthew C.,
Joiner Thomas E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.2007.37.6.616
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , binge drinking , psychology , clinical psychology , suicide prevention , alcohol , suicidal behavior , sample (material) , injury prevention , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , psychiatry , medicine , environmental health , biochemistry , chemistry , chromatography
Relatively little research has been conducted on the relationship between alcohol misuse and suicidal behavior among the elderly. The current study's aim was to examine whether quantity and frequency of alcohol use and the interaction between these variables are related to current suicidal ideation, previous suicidal ideation/intent, and past suicide attempts in a community sample of 1,010 Australian adults over age 60. Results partially supported our hypotheses. The interaction between quantity and frequency of alcohol use was significant, suggesting that those who use alcohol less frequently but in greater quantities (i.e., binge drinking) are more likely to have a history of suicide attempts.