Table 2

Association between receiving public welfare assistance and suicidal ideation among older adults in Japan (N=16 135)

Model 1Model 2Model 3Model 4Model 5
PR95% CIPR95% CIPR95% CIPR95% CIPR95% CI
Receipt of public assistance2.97(2.12 to 4.17)2.99(2.14 to 4.20)2.03(1.44 to 2.87)1.52(1.06 to 2.19)1.47(1.02 to 2.13)
Age (ref: 65–69)
 70–740.69(0.58 to 0.82)0.68(0.57 to 0.80)0.68(0.57 to 0.80)0.67(0.57 to 0.80)
 75–790.57(0.47 to 0.69)0.52(0.43 to 0.64)0.54(0.44 to 0.66)0.53(0.44 to 0.65)
 80–840.50(0.39 to 0.65)0.45(0.34 to 0.58)0.46(0.35 to 0.59)0.45(0.35 to 0.58)
 85+0.58(0.42 to 0.81)0.49(0.35 to 0.69)0.45(0.33 to 0.63)0.44(0.32 to 0.62)
Sex (ref. male)1.21(1.06 to 1.39)1.13(0.98 to 1.29)1.18(1.03 to 1.35)1.16(0.99 to 1.36)
A no of household members (Ref: Living alone)
 20.55(0.46 to 0.65)0.62(0.52 to 0.73)0.63(0.53 to 0.75)
 3+0.63(0.52 to 0.77)0.67(0.55 to 0.82)0.69(0.56 to 0.85)
Education >9 years (ref: ≤9 years)0.79(0.67 to 0.94)0.84(0.71 to 0.99)0.83(0.70 to 0.99)
Equivalised household income (JPY 10 000; Ref:<100)
 ≥JPY100 to <JPY2000.81(0.65 to 1.02)0.90(0.72 to 1.12)0.89(0.72 to 1.11)
 ≥JPY200 to <JPY3000.85(0.67 to 1.02)1.06(0.84 to 1.34)1.06(0.84 to 1.34)
 ≥JPY300 to <JPY4000.64(0.49 to 0.85)0.85(0.65 to 1.12)0.85(0.65 to 1.12)
 ≥JPY4000.78(0.59 to 1.04)1.13(0.85 to 1.50)1.13(0.85 to 1.50)
Depressive symptoms4.07(3.53 to 4.68)4.00(3.46 to 4.62)
Medical conditions (Ref: none)
 1 or 20.97(0.81 to 1.15)
 3+1.25(1.02 to 1.55)
Completed IADL (Ref: lower IADL)1.06(0.90 to 1.26)
  • Bold font is used to show statistically significant results. Model 1 was a null model that included only receipt of public welfare assistance. Model 2 additionally included age and sex. Model 3 included the same variables as in model 2 and the number of household members, education and equivalent household income. Model 4 included the same variables as in model 3 and depressive symptoms. The fully adjusted model 5 had the same variables as in model 4 and IADL and medical conditions. To adjust for geographical variation, the individual municipalities were coded as dummy variables and included in the analysis.

  • IADL, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living; PR, prevalence ratio.