Age-related sex differences in factors associated with suicidal ideation: a short-term longitudinal study

Abstract

Objective This study examines longitudinal associations among suicidal ideation, perceived social support, well-being, and depressive symptoms, and compares them across age groups and sex. Methods Participants (N = 1,078; aged 15–49 years) completed online questionnaires in January 2024 (T1) and February 2024 (T2), over a one-month interval. Suicidal ideation was assessed using the short form of the Scale for Suicide Ideation, perceived social support using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and well-being using the PERMA-Profiler. Using a latent change model, we estimated baseline levels (“Level”) and latent T1–T2 changes (“Change”) in suicidal ideation, mental health (well-being and depressive symptoms), and perceived social support. Here, “change in suicidal ideation” refers to latent short-term change from T1 to T2 and may reflect emergence, worsening, or improvement. Participants were divided into four groups by age and sex (younger women, younger men, middle-aged women, and middle-aged men), and multi-group analyses compared associations across groups. Younger and middle-aged participants were aged 15–29 and 30–49 years, respectively. Results Associations among the latent change factors (i.e., Change–Change correlations) differed by group. Among younger women, worsening suicidal ideation covaried with worsening depressive symptoms (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) and declines in well-being (r = −0.59, p < 0.001) and perceived social support (r = −0.37, p < 0.001). In contrast, Change–Change correlations among younger men were not significant. Among middle-aged women, worsening suicidal ideation covaried with declines in perceived social support (r = −0.21, p = 0.026) and well-being (r = −0.21, p = 0.023). Among middle-aged men, worsening suicidal ideation covaried with worsening depressive symptoms (r = 0.41, p < 0.001) and declines in perceived social support (r = −0.29, p = 0.003). Discussion Overall, perceived social support was associated with lower short-term change in suicidal ideation in all groups except younger men, suggesting that social support may be a relevant correlate of short-term co-change in suicidal ideation. Particularly among younger women, short-term changes in well-being and depressive symptoms may be especially important correlates of suicidal ideation, whereas correlates of short-term change in suicidal ideation may differ among younger men.