Culture, suicidal ideation and older people (version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does feeling connected and valued affect the way people feel about themselves and their lives in people aged 50 years and older from different cultures?
IRAS ID
262985
Contact name
Iman Hassan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
N/A / N/A / CTRG
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 17 days
Research summary
The study aims to see if feeling connected and valued affect the way people feel about themselves and their lives in people aged 50 years old and above from different cultures. We are particularly interested in the impact on suicidal ideation (i.e. thoughts, attitudes and intentions regarding suicide). More research is needed to better understand what factors may impact suicidal ideation in order to further inform practice in clinical services with how people are supported. The interpersonal theory of suicide developed by Thomas Joiner in 2005 states that people are more likely to think about suicide when they feel like they do not belong or do not feel connected to others and/or when they feel like a burden. It is possible that this association is stronger in people who are from cultures where importance is placed on being part of the group, such as the family or community, rather than the individual (i.e. allocentric cultures) compared to cultures where importance is placed on the individual rather than the group (i.e. idiocentric cultures). Therefore, the main aim of the current study is to explore whether such a cultural difference exists between groups. To investigate this, people aged 50 years and older who can speak English fluently will be invited to complete questionnaires, including those measuring belongingness, burdensomeness, suicidal ideation and allocentric/idiocentric values. Depression, anxiety and quality of life will also be measured. Recruitment will focus on people accessing mental health services across Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and people in the community across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the West Midlands.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EM/0294
Date of REC Opinion
3 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion