• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.82-92
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• 2010

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the incidence and risk factors of suicidal ideation among the elderly in Korea. Methods: This cross-sectional study used secondary data of the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The participants were 1,097 elderly Koreans who responded to the health survey. Sociodemographics, health related characteristics, and the prevalence of suicidal ideation were obtained through face-to-face interviews. Risk factors of the suicidal ideation were also examined. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: Of the 1,097 respondents, 30.5% had suicidal ideation during the past year. Depression and stress were the important risk factors; others included mobility, pain/discomfort, chronic illness, smoking, sleep, and leisure time physical activity. Sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, education, and marital status affected suicidal ideation. Conclusion: The high frequency of suicidal ideation in the elderly suggests the necessity of community-based interventions directed at depression and stress.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.127-137
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in suicidal ideation according to general characteristics, and to identify the associated factors of suicidal ideation in rural elderly. Method: We surveyed 168 elderly people using structured questionnaires from March through April, 2013. Data analy was performed using descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$ test, Fisher's Exact test, and multiple regression using the SPSS program. Results: Significantly differences in suicidal ideation score were observed according to drinking state(p=.036), sleep state(p=.013), health state(p=.020), and stress state(p=.049). The associated factors identified in this study significantly explained 13.2% of suicidal ideation. Smoking and sleep state were the most significant factors of suicidal ideation. Conclusion: Based on these results, development of programs for promotion of psychological health in order to reduce suicide rates of the elderly is urgent. In particular when focusing on relations between sleep disturbance and suicide, it is considered that nursing intervention will be required to promote quality of sleep in clinical practices and communities.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.spc
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• pp.577-590
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the suicidal ideation rate of the elderly including individual and regional factors by sex. Methods: This is secondary analysis study that combines the data of the 2017 Community Health Survey with the e-indicator data set of the National Statistical Office, and a descriptive correlation study. Statistical analysis used hierarchical logistic regression by SAS 9.4. Results: The 11.5% of the elderly had suicidal ideation within the last year, and 18.4% in Chungnam is the highest. Individual characteristics include females, older people, lower education levels, no job or housewife, no spouse, less than seven hours of sleep per day on the average, low subjective health, high subjective stress, and the worse their economic conditions, the more they had suicide ideation. Considering regional characteristics, suicidal ideation tended to increase significantly as the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people and the rate of obesity was lower, the rate of stress perception was higher, and the odds value was small. When both individual and regional factors were considered, the model conformity of the suicidal ideation improved (ICC=0.0814). Conclusion: In order to lower the suicidal rate of the elderly, it seems that both individual and community factors need to be comprehensively approached from the stage of suicidal ideation in the community.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.831-850
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• 2016

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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.709-725
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• 2024

This study utilized the raw data from the Community Health Survey (2023) to compare differences in body function, activity, participation, environment, personal factors, and suicidal ideations between elderly individuals aged 65 and older living alone and those living with families in Korea. The study subjects consisted of 80,618 elderly individuals aged 65 and older. Cross-tabulation analysis χ²-test), independent sample t-test, and logistic regression analysis were conducted. The results indicated that for both elderly individuals living alone and those living with families, age(p<.001), smoking(p<.001), stress(p<.001), depression experience(p<.001), and falls experiences(p<.001) were risk factors that increased suicidal ideations. Conversely, educational level(p<.05), income level(p<.001), subjective health status(p<.001), social participation(p<.001), economic activity(p<.001), community environment(p<.001), and social relationships were protective factors that reduced suicidal ideations. These findings demonstrate that demographic characteristics and individual health status significantly influence suicidal ideation in the elderly, while social factors contribute to a decrease in suicidal ideation. Furthermore, considering the differences found between elderly individuals living alone and those living with families regarding hypertension and gender, differentiated interventions for suicide prevention are necessary.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.287-297
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing suicidal ideation among the elderly over 60 years old living in the community centered on sleep and depression. A total of 210 elderly people living in a metropolitan city were surveyed about suicidal ideation, sleep pattern (sleep time, quality of sleep) and depression. Data analysis showed that 14.3% of the subjects were seniors with a high suicidal ideation, 23.3% were sleeping less than 5 hours, 17.6% were poor sleep quality, and 33.3% were depressed. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, the factors influencing suicidal ideation were identified as depression (OR=6.889, 95% CI=2.679-17.712), sleep quality (OR=3.770, 95% CI=1.469-9.679), and gender (OR=3.080, 95% CI=1.266-7.491). These three factors accounted for 31.6% of suicidal ideation variables. Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that reducing the depression and improving the quality of sleep in consideration of gender should be an essential strategy for the elderly in the community to reduce the suicidal ideation.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.319-327
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the degree of loneliness and suicidal ideation and the difference of them according to character type in the elderly. The study involved 149 the elderly, 65 years and over, attending community senior centers and social welfare centers. Data were collected from May to June, 2013 using the structured questionnaire. According to the findings, the means of loneliness and suicidal ideation were 2.0(${\pm}0.5$) and 1.5(${\pm}0.6$) respectively and they were below the median. In character type, percentage of the active integrated coper was 67.1% and next was the dependent passive type, the self-negating undercoper, and the failing overcoper. Loneliness and suicidal ideation of the active integrated coper were lower than them of the failing overcoper and the self-negating undercoper in elderly. There was positive correlation between loneliness and suicidal ideation. It is meaningful that the study results will be provided for understanding of elderly' mental health. Based on the results, the differentiated intervention considered of character type should be developed and provided for decreasing the loneliness and suicidal ideation in elderly.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between health status, health-promoting behavior, self-esteem and suicidal ideation among the elderly. Method: Subjects consisted of 115 elderly persons. Data were collected from January to March 2013, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: The mean scores for health status ($2.41{\pm}.68$), health-promoting behavior ($2.38{\pm}.43$), and self-esteem ($2.87{\pm}.69$) among the elderly fell in the average range, whereas scores for suicidal ideation ($.48{\pm}.36$) among the elderly fell in the below average range. Health status differed significantly according to age, educational level and economic status. Health-promoting behavior did not differ significantly based on these general characteristics. Self-esteem differed significantly according to age, job, and number of people living in the household. Suicidal ideation differed significantly based on age, educational level, and economic status. Significant correlations were found between health status, health-promoting behavior, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation. Conclusion: These findings indicate that perceived health status, health-promoting behavior, and self-esteem may be factors that need to be considered in order to decrease the prevalence of suicidal ideation among the elderly. These results can be used to develop a suicide prevention program for the elderly.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2019

Purpose : This study was implemented to identify the risk conditions influencing suicidal ideation in a nationally representative sample of elderly South Koreans. Methods : Data from 1,152 men and 1,581 women aged 65 years or older were gathered from the 2013 and 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI. All analyses were performed using SPSS. To determine significant correlations between risk condition and suicidal ideation, a t-test was used. Results : There were differences in suicidal ideation according to the following individual factors: age, educational background, marital status, economic activity, recognition of stress, experience of depression, and economic status. There were differences in suicidal ideation according to the following health-related factors: subjective health status, EQ-5D (EuroQoL-5 Dimensions), hours of sleep, and BMI. There were also differences in suicidal ideation according to the following disease-related factors: HTN, COPD, asthma, stroke, depression and osteoarthritis. Conclusion : The findings indicate that broad intervention programs should be distributed to prevent suicidal ideation. It is also recommended that programs be developed in a way that can help manage the variables identified in this study. Furthermore, follow-up studies should be conducted to verify the program.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.69 no.3
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• pp.35-63
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• 2017

This study conducted researches to get related basic materials and grope for a way to prevent or treat suicidal ideation. For the researches, the study examined eco-systematical variables of suicidal ideation of those who are 65 years or older, and the influence of the change in the eco-systematical variables by using the source materials researched in sixteen cities/provinces over the country from KOWEPS(Korea Welfare Panel Study), and then reviewed if there any difference according to whether they had suicidal ideation or thought in the previous year. The analysis result shows that each variable of the ecological system such as individual, family, and social system has an effect on the elderly's suicidal ideation, and there is difference in the influence factor according to whether they had suicidal ideation in the previous year or not. The result implies the policy to cope with the elderly's suicide needs multidimensional approach of individual, family, and society rather than a simple individual level. And also there should be a different support or service according to their situation or conditions like previous suicidal ideation. Especially, it is quite significant that the factors do not influence the elderly who had suicidal ideation in the previous year, but have an effect on those who did not have any suicidal ideation, which means that the proactive and preventive support related to suicidal ideation would guarantee a more efficient and effective policy.