Association between anger and suicidal ideation

Suicide ranks among the 10 leading causes of death, with rates increasing among middle-aged adults. Anger is associated with suicide risk, but few studies have investigated this association in a primarily middle-aged sample. The present study investigated the association between state or trait anger and suicidal ideation among a national sample of 1255 middle-aged adults. Participants (M = 54.5, SD = 11.7; range = 34–84) were from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Biomarker sub-project (2004–2009). In a multivariate model including age, sex, depression symptoms, angry temperament, and externalized anger, only angry temperament significantly predicted suicidal ideation independent of depression symptoms (OR = 1.13, p = .04). The associations between anger subscales and suicidal ideation were not moderated by gender or depression symptoms and were not mediated by interpersonal difficulties. Among middle-aged adults, angry temperament is associated with risk of suicidal ideation, irrespective of gender or depression symptoms. Assessing and addressing angry temperament in treatment may help decrease suicide risk.