Next Article in Journal
Retrospective Analyses of COVID-19 and Population Ageing Effects on Italian Mortality during the Pandemic
Next Article in Special Issue
Meaningful Work, Well-Being, and Health: Enacting a Eudaimonic Vision
Previous Article in Journal
Correction: Albendín-García et al. Explanatory Models of Burnout Diagnosis Based on Personality Factors in Primary Care Nurses. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 9170
Previous Article in Special Issue
Dysfunctional Schemas from Preadolescence as One Major Avenue by Which Meaning Has Impact on Mental Health
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Unpacking Psychological Vulnerabilities in Deaths of Despair

Institute on Aging, 2245 Medical Sciences Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(15), 6480; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156480
Submission received: 28 April 2023 / Revised: 14 July 2023 / Accepted: 17 July 2023 / Published: 31 July 2023

Abstract

Recent demographic findings show increased rates of death due to suicide, drug addictions, and alcoholism among midlife white adults of lower socioeconomic status (SES). These have been described as “deaths of despair” though little research has directly assessed psychological vulnerabilities. This study used longitudinal data from the Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS) study to investigate whether low levels of eudaimonic and hedonic well-being predict increased risk of deaths of despair compared to other leading causes of death (cancer, heart disease). The investigation focused on 695 reported deaths with cause of death information obtained from 2004 to 2022 via NDI Plus. Key questions were whether risk for deaths due to despair (suicide, drug addiction, alcoholism) compared to deaths due to cancer or heart disease were differentially predicted by deficiencies in well-being, after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Low levels of purpose in life, positive relations with others, personal growth and positive affect predicted significantly greater likelihood of deaths of despair compared to deaths due to heart disease, with such patterns prominent among better-educated adults. The findings bring attention to ongoing intervention efforts to improve psychological well-being.
Keywords: deaths of despair; deaths due to heart disease or cancer; eudaimonic well-being; hedonic well-being; educational status deaths of despair; deaths due to heart disease or cancer; eudaimonic well-being; hedonic well-being; educational status

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Song, J.; Kang, S.; Ryff, C.D. Unpacking Psychological Vulnerabilities in Deaths of Despair. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 6480. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156480

AMA Style

Song J, Kang S, Ryff CD. Unpacking Psychological Vulnerabilities in Deaths of Despair. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(15):6480. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156480

Chicago/Turabian Style

Song, Jieun, Sohyun Kang, and Carol D. Ryff. 2023. "Unpacking Psychological Vulnerabilities in Deaths of Despair" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 15: 6480. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156480

APA Style

Song, J., Kang, S., & Ryff, C. D. (2023). Unpacking Psychological Vulnerabilities in Deaths of Despair. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(15), 6480. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156480

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop