Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Swedish Suicide-Bereaved Women: Increased Risk Associated With the Loss of a Child, Feelings of Guilt and Shame, and Perceived Avoidance From Family Members

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Michael Westerlund¹  Sebastian Hökby²  Gergö Hadlaczky² 

[1] Department of Media Studies, Stockholm University;National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Centre for Health Economics, Informatics and Health Services Research, Stockholm Health Care Services;National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Department of Learning, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet

关键词: suicidal thoughts and behaviors;    bereavement;    child bereavement;    social avoidance;    guilt;    shame;    postvention;    women’s health;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01113

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Previous studies have shown that suicide-bereaved individuals may suffer increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) due to traumatic grief. In this paper, we present the self-reported rate of STB among Swedish suicide-bereaved women ( N = 293). Data was collected in a cross-sectional anonymous survey on the homepages of Sweden’s leading suicide survivor organization, SPES. We used logistic regression to evaluate risks (of any STB event) related to losing a child compared to other relatives and the experience of social avoidance from family members, as well as feelings of shame and guilt. The self-reported rate of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts was 60, 24, and 5 percent, respectively, considerably higher than in the general population. Results showed that all of the investigated variables were independent risk factors for STB (ORs ranged between 1.29 and 2.69). Women who had both lost a child and experienced family avoidance reported the highest STB rate (87.5%), and we found an interaction effect between these two risk factors (OR = 3.45; 95% CI = 1.05–11.32) that was related to self-reported shame. It is concluded that perceived responsibility for someone else’s suicide, and the social avoidance associated with it, may play an important role for suicide survivors and should be targeted by postvention activities.

【 授权许可】

CC BY