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http://dx.doi.org/10.7856/kjcls.2016.27.4.831

Effect of Social Exclusion on Depression and Suicidal Ideation among the Elderly in Korea: Focus on Gender Differences  

Lee, Jeonghwa (Dept. of Family Environment & Welfare, Chonnam National University)
Oh, Young Eun (Gwang-ju Welfare Foundation)
Publication Information
The Korean Journal of Community Living Science / v.27, no.4, 2016 , pp. 831-850 More about this Journal
Abstract
The ratio of suicide among the elderly in Korea has nearly tripled within the last 20 years. With this in mind, this study examined the effects of social exclusion on depression and suicidal ideation among the elderly living in elderly-only households with a focus on gender differences. Social exclusion is composed of economic, health, housing, education, social participation, and relational aspects. For this study, data were gathered from 527 participants aged 65 years and over. The statistical methods used for data analysis were descriptive statistics, chi-square test, t-test, and hierarchical regression analysis with the SPSS Win 20.0 program. The results of this study are summarized as follows: First, more than 80% of the elderly experienced social exclusion. Women were shown to be more vulnerable than men in terms of housing exclusion, educational exclusion, health exclusion, and multiple exclusion, whereas men were more vulnerable than women in terms of social participation exclusion. Second, social exclusion had significant effects on suicidal ideation among the Korean elderly. We also observed gender differences in the results. Regression analysis of suicidal ideation showed that relational exclusion had a significant effect on suicidal ideation in men, whereas health exclusion had a significant effect on suicidal ideation in women. Results of the study show that stronger social support networks and policies focusing on the elderly are needed in order to reduce elderly suicide in Korea.
Keywords
social exclusion; suicidal ideation; depression; gender differences;
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