Understanding how social connections and daily routines affect late-life thoughts of suicide after a spouse’s death
Official title: Risk and resilience to late-life suicidal ideation and behavior after spousal bereavement: Targeting social connectedness to strengthen circadian rhythmicity
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11389197 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study follows older adults who recently lost a spouse to see how feeling connected to others and having consistent daily routines relate to suicide risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $762,620 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132114-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389197 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (65+) who have recently lost a spouse and have subthreshold or a history of depression.
✕Less likely to help
Bereaved seniors without depressive symptoms or a history of depression may not experience direct benefits from this study.
What this research studies
The research will enroll 169 adults aged 65 and older who recently experienced spousal bereavement and have at least mild depression or a history of depression. Participants will be followed for 12 months with repeated assessments of social connections, sleep and daily activities, mood, and suicidal thoughts. The team will examine whether stronger social ties and steadier circadian rhythms are linked to lower suicide risk during the early bereavement period. The findings could point to practical ways to support grieving elders and reduce risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to interventions that strengthen social ties and stabilize daily routines to prevent suicide in bereaved seniors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown links between social isolation, circadian disruption, and mood; this project builds on those findings in a specific older, bereaved population.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stahl, Sarah T — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Stahl, Sarah T
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.