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http://dx.doi.org/10.7856/kjcls.2014.25.4.511

Effects of the Social Network Structure on Suicidal Thoughts of Elderly Single and Couple Households in Korea: Supportive and Conflictual Networks  

Oh, Young Eun (Dept. of Family Environment & Welfare, Chonnam National University)
Lee, Jeong Hwa (Dept. of Family Environment & Welfare, Chonnam National University)
Shin, Hyo Yeon (National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration)
Publication Information
The Korean Journal of Community Living Science / v.25, no.4, 2014 , pp. 511-531 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study explores supportive and conflictual network structures of elderly single and couple households and analyzes the effects of supportive and conflictual networks on suicidal thoughts by gender and family type. The analysis considered a sample of 522 individuals over the age of 60 who did not live with their adult children. The statistical methods used to analyze data were descriptive statistics, a t-test, a chi-square test and a regression analysis using SPSS WIN 20.0. The results are as follows. First, men and elderly single households had support networks that were smaller than those of women and elderly couple households. The conflictual network of elderly couples households was larger than that of elderly single households. In addition, the larger the network, the more the conflictual was. Second, elderly single households thought about suicide more often than elderly couple households. Third, economic status, the number of adult children, the size of conflictual network and subjective health had considerable influence on suicidal thoughts of elderly single and couple households. The size of the conflictual network had a greater effect on suicidal thoughts of elderly individuals than that of the supportive network. These results have important policy implications for elderly single and couple households.
Keywords
elderly single and elderly couple households; social network structure; supportive network; conflictual network; suicidal thoughts;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 6  (Citation Analysis)
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