- State ageism strongly linked to lower suicide rates across age groups; correlations ranged from -0.55 to -0.62 and regression βs from -0.52 to -0.59.
- Ageism measured via implicit association tests of 331,056 adults (2002–2020); suicide rates age adjusted for 2018–2022 across four age categories.
- Authors suggest higher ageism, reflecting greater fear of death, may deter suicide; findings robust after controlling for socioeconomic and contextual factors.
Death Stud. 2026 Aug 29:1-22. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2723779. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The hypothesis based on terror management theory and fear of death was that higher state ageism is associated with lower state suicide rates among the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Ageism scores were based on responses of 331,056 adults to an implicit association test between 2002 and 2020. Age-adjusted suicide rates for 2018-2022 pertained to four different age categories: 20 years and over, 20-39 years, 40-64 years, and 65 years and older. Statistical controls were socioeconomic status, income inequality, urbanization, Black population percent, religiosity, political conservatism, distress, and depression. Pearson correlations between ageism and the four age-based suicide rates ranged from -.55 to -.62. Multiple regressions with the eight controls and ageism as predictors produced βs for ageism ranging from -.52 to -.59. Multicollinearity and spatial autocorrelation were not problematic. Explanatory speculation focuses on higher fear of death, which is integrally associated with higher ageism, serving as a deterrent to suicide.
PMID:42667693 | DOI:10.1080/07481187.2026.2723779
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