Association of Perceived Health, Happiness, and Quality of Life With Morbid Thoughts and Suicide Ideation: Evidence From the Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health

Background and aims: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of morbid thoughts and suicide attempts as well as their relationship with perceived health status, quality of life, and happiness in five low-middle-income countries.Methods: Data on ۳۳۷۳ men and women aged ۴۰ years and above were collected from the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) survey on five countries: China (۸۳۰), Ghana (۴۳۸), India (۱۶۰۲), Russia (۱۷۵), and South Africa (۸۳۰). Outcome variables were morbid thoughts and suicide attempts, and the main explanatory variables were health status, quality of life, and happiness.Results: The findings indicated that among the five countries, India had the highest prevalence of both morbid thoughts ۷۹.۵% (۹۵% CI: ۷۳.۴-۸۴.۵) and suicide attempts ۷۵.۴% (۹۵% CI: ۶۱.۰-۸۵.۷), while Ghana had the lowest prevalence of both morbid thoughts ۱.۹% (۹۵% CI: ۱.۳-۲.۷) and suicide attempts ۲.۵% (۹۵% CI: ۱.۱-۵.۵). Furthermore, regression analysis revealed a significant association between perceived health, quality of life, and happiness with morbid thoughts and suicide attempts. However, the association between perceived health and happiness was significant only among women. Men and women reporting dissatisfaction with the quality of life had ۱.۵۲۱ times (۹۵% CI: ۱.۱۲۶-۲.۰۵۶) and ۱.۷۶۲ times (۹۵% CI: ۱.۴۰۶-۲.۲۰۹) higher odds of morbid thoughts compared with those who reported satisfaction with the quality of life.Conclusion: Perceived poor health, quality of life, and happiness are significantly associated with higher odds of morbid thoughts of suicidal ideation, especially among women. In line with the past findings, these findings support the importance of focusing on these perceived constructs of health and life for mental health promotion and suicide prevention programs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Perceived health ، Quality of life ، Happiness ، Morbid thoughts ، Suicide ideation