TITLE:
Toward a Further Understanding of Suicide Risk from a Mindset Framework among Older Adults
AUTHORS:
Daniel L. Segal, Kadija N. Williams
KEYWORDS:
Suicidal Ideation, Mindset Theory, Entity Theory, Aging, Cognitive Vulnerability
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.17 No.2,
February
4,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Suicide rates are highest among older adults, yet existing risk factors do not fully explain variability in suicidal ideation in later life. Mindset theory, which distinguishes between fixed (entity) and growth (incremental) beliefs about the malleability of personal attributes, has been linked to psychological adjustment across the lifespan, but it has not been empirically examined in relation to suicidality among older adults. This study investigated associations between fixed mindset beliefs and suicidal ideation, mood symptoms, and related psychosocial risk factors in later life. Methods: Participants were 110 community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 68.3 years) who completed self-report measures assessing entity theory (fixed mindset), suicidal ideation, depressive and anxiety symptoms, emotional dysregulation, negative attitudes toward aging, sociotropy, and autonomy. Results: Bivariate correlational results revealed that entity theory was significantly and positively associated with suicidal ideation, age distancing, negative age stereotyping, and sociotropy. Contrary to hypotheses, entity theory was not significantly related to depression or anxiety. To test for predictors of suicidal ideation, in a multiple regression analysis, the overall model accounted for a substantial proportion of variance in suicidal ideation (adjusted R2 = 0.70), with fixed mindset beliefs and depressive symptoms emerging as significant independent and positive predictors. Discussion: Findings suggest that fixed mindset beliefs may represent a distinct cognitive vulnerability factor for suicidal ideation in older adulthood, independent of mood symptoms. Mindset theory may offer a novel framework for understanding late-life suicide risk and inform the development of scalable, cognitive-focused interventions targeting modifiable beliefs about change and adaptability.