Abstract
Introduction:
The study is to explore how childhood health status (X), early life adversities (M1), financial condition (M2), and satisfaction with social networks (M3) are associated with the development of suicidal ideation (Y) over time among older adults in 13 European countries. Respondents were drawn from the Survey of Health, Ageing, Retirement in Europe (SHARE) conducted in 2013 (Wave 5), 2015 (Wave 6), 2016 (Wave 7), and 2020 (Wave 8). 56.8% (n=10043) of respondents were female, and 43.2% (n=7642) were male. The mean age at Wave 8 was 72.35 (range 60-103).
Method:
The conditional process analysis using the PROCESS macro (model 6), which can perform the same function as structural equation modelling, was applied (Hayes, Montoya & Rockwood, 2017).
Results:
A poor childhood health status (X) (unstandardised b=.1222, p<.001) was found to have a direct impact on suicidal ideation (Wave 8), but its effect was decreased after considering the mediation effect of the three mediators (unstandardised b of M1=.1511, p<.001, unstandardised b of M2=.1931, p<.001, and unstandardised b of M3= -.1640, p<.001) (unstandardised b of X to Y via M1, M2 and M3=.0428, p=.1913, Full competitive mediation).
Conclusion:
Findings show that poor childhood health status contributed significantly to developing suicidal ideation over time. The cumulative risk of early life adversities and a worse financial situation than expected earlier in life positively mediated the impact of adverse childhood health status on developing suicidal ideation. However, a satisfied social network can eliminate the cumulated risk of adverse childhood health status, early life adversities, and a worse financial situation in the development of suicidal ideation. A higher level of satisfaction with social networks, especially since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is a protective risk for suicidal ideation among older adults.