A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data: Mental Health Determinants of Major Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Older Adults

ABSTRACT

This study examined the mental health determinants of race, sex, education, poverty, and overall health and whether they are significant predictors of major depressive episodes (MDE) and suicidal ideation (SI) among older adults while adjusting for marital status. Data were obtained from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health public-use file.

Weighted MLR analyses of the five predictors were used to predict MDE and SI risk among older adults. Study results confirmed that the five mental health determinants significantly predicted MDE and SI among older adults with adjustment for marital status (p < .05).

The findings highlight the role that mental health determinants play in predicting MDE and SI among older adults and important confounders that can impact the examination of their risk for MDE and SI. Clinicians and gerontologists need to develop tailored interventions that meet the needs of older adults.

KEYWORDS:

• Big data
• complex national survey
• major depression
• suicidal ideation
• older adults

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.