Suicídio de homens idosos: uma revisão integrativa da literatura

Abstract

Introduction: High suicide rates among older adults constitute a serious public health issue, especially when analyzed from a gender perspective, as men show a greater propensity for suicide compared to women. Objective: To understand suicide among older men from a gender perspective through an integrative literature review. Methodology: A search was conducted in the SciELO, BVS, PubMed, and LILACS databases using the controlled descriptors “Masculinity,” “Suicide,” and “Aged” combined with the Boolean operators OR and AND. Studies published between 2010 and 2025 in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, with participants aged ≥ 60 years, were included. The final sample consisted of six articles, which were analyzed using Bardin’s Content Analysis. Results: Three thematic categories emerged from the analysis: (1) Challenges experienced in old age; (2) The influence of hegemonic masculinity on the occurrence of suicide; and (3) Focus on suicide prevention among older men. Conclusions: Masculinity shapes the meanings men attribute to the aging process, significantly influencing the occurrence of suicide. Furthermore, gaps remain both in scientific production and in health promotion initiatives directed toward older men.