Dementia-related anxiety and coping styles associated with suicidal ideation

Objective: Dementia-related anxiety is associated with general anxiety and depression, which are risk factors for suicidal ideation. Consequently, dementia-related anxiety may be associated with suicidal ideation. When faced with a negative event (e.g. developing dementia), individuals primarily employ monitoring or blunting styles of coping. The present study investigated whether dementia-related anxiety and coping styles were associated with suicidal ideation in adults and whether coping styles moderated the relation between dementia-related anxiety and suicidal ideation. Methods: Online Mturk participants (n = 330) completed the Miller Behavioral Style Scale, Dementia Worry Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Suicidal ideation was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire. Results: Dementia-related anxiety and monitor/blunter coping styles were independently associated with suicidal ideation in a multiple logistic regression; coping styles did not moderate the relation between dementia-related anxiety and suicidal ideation. Discussion: Greater dementia-related anxiety and less use of monitoring coping style were associated with suicidal ideation. Interventions to decrease suicide risk may benefit from taking into account individual differences in dementia-related anxiety and coping styles.