The meaning in life and suicidal thoughts over the age of 60: the roles of spiritual orientation and emotional loneliness

Background: In recent years, suicide rates of the elderly have been increasing, both globally and in Turkey. While the meaning in life and spiritual orientation are protective factors for suicide, emotional loneliness increases suicidal thoughts. The aim of this study is to test a model of the relationship between the meaning in life, suicidal ideation, spiritual orientation and emotional loneliness. The study consisted of 134 participants. The moderating role of emotional loneliness and the mediating role of spiritual orientation between the meaning in life and suicidal ideation were tested. There is a significant mediating role of spiritual orientation between the meaning in life and suicidal ideation. In addition, emotional loneliness has a significant moderating role on the suicidal ideation of the meaning in life. This study shows that emotional loneliness is a risk factor while the meaning in life and spiritual orientation towards suicide are protective factors in the elderly.