J Prev Med Public Health.  2015 Jan;48(1):28-37. 10.3961/jpmph.14.030.

Factors That Affect Suicidal Attempt Risk Among Korean Elderly Adults: A Path Analysis

• Ro J
• Park J
• Lee J
• Jung H

• KMID: 2381444
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.14.030

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Among the Korean elderly (those 65 years of age and older), the suicide rate is 80.3/100 000 people, which is ten times higher than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average. Because South Korea is rapidly becoming an aging population, this high elderly suicidal rate will only get worse. Although the size of the elderly suicide problem is quite large, previous research in South Korea has surveyed restricted areas and not the entire country. Even though the factors that affect elderly suicide are complicated, there has been little research into these influencing factors. Thus, this research uses the national survey data (Community Health Survey) that was obtained in 2009. Additionally, we analyze factors affecting elderly suicidal ideation and attempts as well as the paths of these effects.
METHODS
Community Health Survey data obtained by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2009 was used for this study. We additionally examined the factors that affect suicide with chi-squared tests, t-tests, Pearson's correlation test, and path analysis.
RESULTS
Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation are the only factors that directly affect suicidal attempts. Demographic, behavioral, and physical activity factors have indirect effects on suicidal attempts.
CONCLUSIONS
Depression has the strongest influence on suicidal ideation and attempts. Demographic, behavioral, and physical activity factors affect suicidal attempts mostly through depressive symptoms. In addition, there is a path that suggests that demographic, behavioral, and physical activity factors affect suicidal attempts not through depression symptoms but only through suicidal ideation. This means that the elderly who do not have depression symptoms attempt suicide according to their own situations and characteristics.

Keyword

Attempted suicide; Path analysis; Community Health Survey; Aged

MeSH Terms

Aged
Databases, Factual
Depression
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Health Behavior
Humans
Male
Models, Theoretical
Motor Activity
Republic of Korea
Risk Factors
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide, Attempted/psychology/*statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires