• 수면정신생리
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.5-9
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• 2016

Previous research has identified the biological, psychological, and social factors that confer an elevated risk for suicide. Evidence suggests that sleep disturbances are one of the risk factors that predict an increased risk for suicidal behaviors. Both sleep disorders and general sleep complaints are linked to higher levels of suicidal ideation and depression, as well as increased rates of suicide and suicide attempts. The causal mechanism of this association is not clear. For example, it is not known if insomnia is an independent phenomenon that if interrupted could prevent the emergence of a mental disorder, or if insomnia is a symptom of another developing illness. Hypofrontality, HPA dysfunction, and an impaired serotonergic system are potential mechanisms underlying the association of sleep disturbances and suicidal behavior. Future research is necessary to examine the specific mechanism of this association between sleep and suicide, which may lead to an effective intervention and diminished suicide risk.

• 가정과삶의질연구
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.123-134
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• 2008

This study aimed to assess the roll of various abusive factors on suicide thoughts. In particular, the effects of negligence, physical and emotional abuse, as the subordinate variables of abuse, were examined on suicide ideation. In addition, the mediation effects of shame-proneness and friendships were also investigated. To achieve these specific objectives, subordinate dimensions of abuse such as negligence, physical abuse and emotional abuse were measured for 277 male and 275 female students from Seoul middle schools using a measurement tool. Specifically, experiences of being abused and neglected, the level of suicide thoughts using scale for suicidal ideation (SSI), the level of shame-proneness and friendships using personal feelings questionnaire-2(PFQ-2), and schoolmate relationships were measured using a questionnaire. Analysis of collected data revealed that while suicide thoughts showed significant positive relationship with abuse and shame-proneness, there was a significant negative relationship between suicide thoughts and friendships. In particular, negligence, physical abuse and emotional abuse had significant effects on suicide ideation, while emotional abuse had the greatest effect on suicide ideation. Shame-proneness and friendships partially mediated abuse and suicide thoughts. The findings of this study have contributed to understanding of factors related to suicide thoughts. In particular, the mediation effects of shame-proneness and friendships have been highlighted.

• 보건교육건강증진학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate life stressors and mitigating factors affecting suicide ideation amongst university students in Korea. Methods: Study participants were recruited online from one of the universities in Seoul. The total of 794 samples were included in the final dataset. First, correlation analyses were performed among life stressors, depression and mitigating factors. Second, factorial analysis was conducted to explore different dimensions of he life stressors experienced by the university students. Finally, we used logistic regression to find out the relationship between university students' sub-stressors or mitigating factors, and suicide ideation. Results: Three sub-stressors were identified - interpersonal relationship stress, academic stress and economic stress. All of these stressors were significantly associated with suicide ideation. However, none of them significantly predicted suicide ideation controlling for depression. All mitigating factors - health related behaviors, social support and leisure activities - were statistically significant and negatively related to depression, yet only social support had a significantly negative association with suicide ideation. Conclusions: In conclusion, Social support is the most important factor which may affect suicide ideation among university students in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.70-77
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• 2012

Objectives: Identify the characteristics related to the suicide rates in rural and urban areas of Korea and discover the factors that influence the suicide rate of the rural and urban areas. Methods: Using the data on causes of death from 2006 to 2008, the suicide rates were calculated and compared after age-standardization based on gender, age group and urbanicity. And, in order to understand the factors that influence suicide rate, total 10 local characteristics in four domains - public service, social integration, residential environment, and economic status - were selected for multiple regression analysis. Results: The suicide rates were higher in men than women, in rural areas than urban, and in older people than the younger. Generally, although there were variations according to age group and urbanicity, suicide rates were significantly related to residential environment and regional economic status but not related to regional welfare spending and social integration. In addition, the population over the age of 65 years, only regional economic status has significantly influence on their suicide rates. Conclusions: The influence of characteristics of regions on suicide rate is various by age-group, gender, and urbanicity. Therefore, in order to lower suicide rate and reduce the gap between regions, various approaches must be adopted by taking into account the socioeconomic characteristics of the regions.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.30-38
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• 2024

Background: Although Korea ranks first in the suicide rate of elderly individuals, there is limited research on those who attempt suicide, with preventive measures largely based on population-based studies. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly individuals who attempted suicide with those of younger adults who visited the emergency department after suicide attempts and identified the factors associated with lethality in the former group. Methods: Individuals who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2020, were included. Participants were classified into two groups according to age (elderly, ≥65 years; adult, 18-64 years). Among the 779 adult patients, 123 were elderly. We conducted a chi-square test to compare the demographic and clinical features between these groups and a logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for lethality in the elderly group. Results: Most elderly participants were men, with no prior psychiatric history or suicide attempts, and had a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and attributed their attempts to physical illnesses. Being sober and planning suicide occurred more frequently in this group. In the elderly group, factors that increased the mortality rate were biological male sex (p<0.05), being accompanied by family members (p<0.05), and poisoning as a suicide method (p<0.01). Conclusion: Suicide attempts in elderly individuals have different characteristics from those in younger adults and are associated with physical illness. Suicides in the former group are unpredictable, deliberate, and fatal. Therefore, tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing the characteristics of those who are elderly and attempt suicide are required.

• 정신신체의학
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.163-169
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• 1996

The authors examined for risk factors for suicide among psychiatric patients who had committed suicide through the analysis of demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics of the patients. The total number of suicides committed during social adjustment period was 9. Male and female ratio was 5:4 and the highest incidence occurred in the age group of 21-29 years. Of the 9 cases, schizophrenia accounted for two-third of the suicides. Among the committed suicides, 4 were in hospitalization and rest were postdischarge state. We found that 4 of 5(80%) suicides occurred in the first year after discharge, and that three fifth(60%) occurred within three months of discharge. In this result, most of suicides occurred immediately or soon after discharge and some during inpatient care. The major precipitating factors the patients showed before committing suicide were realistic and psychological problems. Consquently, they become dejected, experience feelings of hopelessness, go on to a depressed mood, and, in that case, have suicidal ideas that are eventually acted on. We believe that the ability to recognize risk factors for suicide and develop appropriate interventions is key to suicide prevention.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.28-37
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• 2015

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.

• 정신신체의학
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.176-183
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• 2021

연구목적 응급실 기반 자살시도자 사후관리사업에 등록된 자살시도자의 인구학적 요인, 자살시도 패턴 및 정신건강의학과 병력 및 관리가 사후관리 프로그램 완수에 어떠한 영향을 끼치는지 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법 2018년 6월 1일부터 2021년 5월 31일까지 중앙대학교병원 응급실을 방문한 자살시도 환자 중 사례관리에 동의한 661명을 연구대상으로 하였다. 대상자는 응급실 퇴원 후 8주간의 사후관리 서비스 프로그램에 등록하여 관리를 받았다. 인구학적 요인, 자살시도 패턴, 정신건강의학과 병력 및 관리에 해당하는 요인들을 독립변인으로, 사후관리사업 프로그램의 완수 여부를 종속변인으로 두고, 위계적 로지스틱 회귀 분석을 시행하였다. 결 과 자살시도 패턴이 사후관리 사업 완수에 가장 큰 영향을 미치고, 인구학적 요인, 정신건강의학과 병력 및 관리 순으로 사후관리 사업 완료 여부에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 자살시도자 사후관리사업 프로그램 완수자는 미완수자에 비해, 향후 자살계획을 가진 경우가 유의하게 많았고, 자살시도의 진정성이 강했으며, 과거자살시도력 또한 유의하게 높았다. 결 론 대상자들이 사후관리사업 프로그램을 완수하고 지역사회 서비스로 연계되도록 하기 위하여, 자살시도 패턴, 인구학적 요인, 정신건강의학과 병력에 대한 고려를 바탕으로 한 개별화된 접근이 필요하다.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.71-78
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• 2019

Objectives Suicide is a complex phenomenon not only caused by the individual's mental illness and economic situation, but also occurred in sociocultural contexts and relationships around the individual. Therefore, the attitudes, which include collective norms, thoughts and feelings of a population, toward suicide play a fundamental role in the prevention of suicide. Factor structure of Attitudes Toward Suicide (ATTS), developed by Renberg, is also various in different sociocultural contexts. This is the first study to investigate factor structure of ATTS along with nationwide sample of Korean adults. Methods This study analyzed the factor structure and reliability of ATTS in 1500 regionally stratified Korean adults. Exploratory factor analysis was performed by using principal axis factoring and varimax rotation. Results The selection of 33 ATTS items based on internal consistency and communality was conducted. Five factors were analyzed, which were named 'Good reason,' 'Negative gaze,' 'Predictability,' 'Means of escape,' and 'Common secret,' respectively. Explained total variance was 41.94%, and the internal consistency ranged from 0.516 to 0.740. Conclusions Each of the five factors contains different semantic dimensions. Consistent with previous studies, factors containing permissive attitude toward suicide was high in those with history of suicidal thought and of suicide attempt. It is notable that the 'Good reason' showed higher score in elderly. This may be related to socioeconomic or physical adversities which have been considered the major cause of suicide in elderly.

• 한국학교보건학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.103-111
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• 2009

Purpose: By analyzing factors related to suicide ideation of Korean middle and high school students, the purpose of this study was to multi-dimensionally understand suicide ideation of Korean middle and high school students and arrange the plans to prevent suicide. Methods: This study used and analyzed the data on ‘The 3rd (Year2007) Korea Youth Health Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYHRBWS)' conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this study, we analyzed 74,698 respondents in total. SPSS 12.0 Program was used to analyze the survey. Descriptive statistics, Chi-Square Test and multivariate logistic regression were also used as research methods. Results: 23.8% of the Korean middle and high school students had suicide ideation during the last one year. Girls had higher possibility of suicide ideation by 1.51 times compared to boys. Students with poor academic achievement had more suicide ideation. In terms of health characteristics, students who perceived themselves as not healthy, and students with short weekday sleeping hours, more drinking experience and more smoking experience had more suicide ideation than others. Furthermore, students who perceived themselves as overweight or obese had more suicide ideation than other students. In terms of mental characteristics, students with high level of stress, low level of happiness and depression had more suicide ideation. Conclusion: As a result of this study, we found out that the factor that had the biggest influence on suicide ideation of Korean middle and high school students was depression. Consequently, active supports and policies to decrease suicide ideation of Korean middle and high school students are necessary. Therefore, active interviews, education for suicide prevention, and periodical screening inspection should be introduced in schools.