Middle-age suicide: A literature review and epidemiological study

Middle age (i.e., 45-64 years) has been the least studied period of life in developmental psychology and the field of suicidology. Following a review of the suicide and relevant psychosocial literature on middle age, the present investigation reports the levels and trends in suicide among the middle-aged population along with sex and race differences. Official United States suicide data by sex and race from 1933 to 1986 were collected for persons 45 to 64 years of age and compared with the age groups 15 to 24 years, 25 to 44 years, and 65 years and older. Suicide rates declined markedly over the period studied for the middle aged and particularly for men and Caucasians within that category. Rates have increased for all those younger than 45. However, current rates of suicide are comparable to those for middle-aged adults and 25- to 44-year-old adults, but suicide rates for all adult populations are still slightly higher than those for the younger population (15-24 years). Despite dramatic declines in suicide rates for the elderly, the middle-aged group remains at lower risk. Possible explanations for the levels and trends in suicide among the middle aged as well as reasons for sex and race differences are suggested.