JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Although numerous studies demonstrate sex differences in the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB), there is a clear lack of research examining the similarities and differences between men and women in terms of the relationship between STB, transitional life events, and the coping strategies employed after experiencing such events when they are perceived as stressful.

Objective:

To examine differences between men and women’s experience of STB, socio-demographic predictors of STB, and how coping responses after experiencing a stressful transitional life event predict STB.

Methods:

A web-based self-report survey assessed the health and wellbeing of a voluntary community-based sample of men and women over the age of 16 years, living in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States who were recruited using online social media promotion and snowballing.

Results:

In total, 10,765 eligible web-based respondents participated. Compared to men, a significantly greater proportion of women reported STB (P < .001) and endorsed experiencing a transitional life event as stressful (P < .001). However, there were no gender differences in reporting that the transitional life event(s) was stressful for those that also reported STB. Significant socio-demographic adjusted risk factors of STB included younger age, identifying as a sexual minority, lower subjective social connectedness, lower subjective intimate bonds, experiencing a stressful transitional life event in the last 12 month, living alone (women only), not being in employment, education or training (NEET; women only), suddenly or unexpectedly losing a job (men only), and experiencing a relationship breakdown (men only). Protective factors included starting a new job, retirement, having a language background other than English, and becoming a parent for the first time (men only). Results relating to coping after experiencing a self-reported stressful transitional life event in the last 12 months found that regardless of sex, respondents who reported STB compared to those that did not, were less likely to engage in activities promoting social connection such as talking about their feelings (P < .001). Coping strategies significantly explained 19.0% of the STB variance for men (F (16, 1027) = 14.64, P < .001) and 22.0% for women (F (16, 1977) = 36.45, P < .001).

Conclusions:

This research highlights multiple risk factors for STB, one of which includes experiencing at least one stressful transitional life event in the past year. When individuals are experiencing such events, support from services and the community alike should consider using sex-specific/targeted strategies — as this research indicates that more men ‘do nothing’ when experiencing stress after a transitional life event and may be waiting until they experience STB to engage with their social networks for support compared to women.