NSSI in older adults: An explorative study

Description

Submitted abstract: Although adults aged 60 and above have the highest suicide mortality rates, limited research exists on self-harm (eg. NSSI) as important precursor of suicide in adults. This study examines types and motives of self-harm in older people. As recruitment is ongoing until April 2024, a preliminary descriptive analysis of community-dwelling older adults (n=124, with 63.7% female) is described. Results show a lifetime prevalence of 34.5%; 17.5% had self-harmed at the age of 60 or over with 3.5% having engaged in NSSI and 2.6% having attempted suicide. Indirect self-harm types such as alcohol abuse (33%), not taking prescribed medication (33%), and not eating (28%) were reported more often than direct types. Motives included reduction of unpleasant (39%) and generation of pleasant feelings (33%), coping with intense feelings (33%), communicating that they are not doing well (28%), and self-punishment (28%). These findings suggest NSSI is common in older adults, though less so than indirect self-harm. Final results (N of app. 400) will be presented at the conference, including a discussion of risk factors for NSSI versus SSI compared to adolescent/adult samples.

Periode	jun. 2024
Evenementstitel	19th Annual ISSS Conference
Evenementstype	Conference
Locatie	Toronto, CanadaToon op kaart