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The prevalence of indirect self-destructive behaviors in older adult females
Abstract
This study explored the prevalence of indirect self destructive behaviors in community dwelling women sixty years of age and older. Research over the last twenty years in the field of gerontology and suicide has suggested that indirect self destructive behaviors may be a viable option for older persons seeking to end their lives prematurely. Seemingly absent from the literature has been a discussion of women who may engage in this type of behavior when other alternatives are lacking. The subjects included 52 women between the ages of 62 and 89 years. Respondents were active volunteers in either the Senior Companion or Foster Grandparent Program in a Midwestern community. Self-administered survey packets containing four instruments: a general health survey, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, Hoge's Intrinsic Religious Motivation Scale and Rotter's Internal - External Locus of Control Scale, were distributed and completed during a monthly volunteer inservice training. Responses were statistically analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlations and regression analysis. The results indicated: (1) Women in this sample did not engage in indirect self destructive behaviors. (2) Scores on the Beck Hopelessness Scale suggested only minimal or mild hopelessness. (3) This sample had a fairly high level of intrinsic religious motivation, as measured by Hoge's Intrinsic Religious Motivation Scale. (4) Responses to Rotter's Internal - External Locus of Control Scale indicated a more external, rather than internal locus of control. This finding is in contrast to studies demonstrating a relationship between hopelessness and locus of control.
Subject Area
Gerontology|Academic guidance counseling|Behaviorial sciences
Recommended Citation
Masters, Julie Lynne, "The prevalence of indirect self-destructive behaviors in older adult females" (1997). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9815899.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9815899