• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.71-84
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• 2013

Objectives: As suicide among the elderly population has been a critical issue in Korea, this study aimed to evaluate correlations of suicidal ideation with protective and risk factors among elderly who reside in a rural community. Methods: A total of 157 elders from Gyeongju city, who had attended senior centers in, were enrolled to answer questionnaires including the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form-Korea and the Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0K for Windows, and included t-test, Pearson correlation, and a three-step hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Results: Using the hierarchical regression analyses for predicting the elderly's suicidal ideation, male gender and social group variables were entered as predictors in the first step(adjusted $R^2$=0.107, P<0.05). Pain, ADLs, family support variables were not entered in the second step. Depression variable was the only predictor in the third step(adjusted $R^2$=0.384, P<0.001). Conclusions: Although this study confirmed the impact of depression on the suicidal ideation, elderly with risk factors including male gender and social isolation should receive a special attention from community health care professionals.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.539-547
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• 2014

This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of hope between stress and suicidal ideation of adolescents. For the study, 399 adolescents were surveyed at 10 cities of Korea from May to August in 2010. Main results of the study were in the followings. First, it was found out that stress of adolescents was positively correlated with suicidal ideation, hope was negatively correlated with suicidal ideation, and stress influenced more suicidal ideation than hope. Second, suicidal ideation of adolescents tended to be low, stress was in the middle level, and agency and pathways thinking of hope was higher than middle level. Third, it was proved that agency and pathways thinking of hope was mediated between stress and suicidal ideation of adolescents. Lastly, for the female adolescents living in the metropolitan and large cities, only agency thinking of hope was mediated but pathways thinking was not mediated. Policy implications for preventing and decreasing adolescent's suicide were suggested.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation among middle class Korean. Methods: Cross sectional study was designed for secondary data analysis. From the 8th Korea Health Panel survey (2008~2013), a total of 6,037 data was drawn and analyzed by developmental stage using descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, $x^2$ test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: Across all age groups, high physical-mental stress, frustration, anxiety about the future and low self-perceived health status or social class were found to be the risk factors of suicidal ideation. Peer-compared subjective health status and frustration significantly influenced the adolescents. The young adults'suicidal ideation was mainly influenced by physical and mental stress, frustration and absence of economic activity. For the middle-aged, physical and mental stress, frustration, future anxiety, low peer-compared subjective health status were found to be the major influencing factors. The predominant risk factors for the elderly were frustration and low peer-compared subjective health status. Conclusion: Making comparisons to others significantly influence suicidal ideation throughout all life cycles. Improvement of mental health and suicide prevention can be enhanced by avoiding negative comparison to others.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the associations of food security with socio-demographic characteristics, nutrient intakes and mental health status among older Korean adults. Methods: This study was conducted using data from the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Subjects were 4,451 adults aged 65~98 years. Food security was measured using a self-reported question on food sufficiency of subjects' household. Based on the answers, study subjects were classified into secure, mildly insecure, moderately insecure, and severely insecure groups. Dietary intake was estimated by 24-hour dietary recall. Nutrient intake was assessed by dietary reference intakes (DRI). As for mental health status, the data on mental stress, depression, and suicide ideation were used. Results: Rate of food insecurity in older adults was 14.3%. Old age, being female, low education, low income level, living alone, and discomfort in daily living were more related to food insecurity. Means of nutrient intakes were significantly different according to food security status. Intakes of calcium, potassium, and vitamin $B_2$ were lower than recommended intakes in all groups. Consumption amounts of soy and soybean products, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, vegetable oils, meats, eggs, seafood, and dairy products were lower in food insecure groups. Mental stress, depression, and suicide ideation were higher in food insecure groups independent of the gender and income level. Conclusions: These present findings suggested that food security is related to mental health as well as nutrition status in older Korean adults. A national system that include food and psychosocial support programs for the elderly should be considered in order to improve the overall health of older Korean adults.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.95-104
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• 2014

Today, the number of the elderly living alone without any family members is on a sharp rise, and those aged people living alone are making these social issues such as solitary death, depression and suicide more popular. In order to resolve the issues, some of the local governments have been supporting the elderly living alone in common houses that would be used by senior citizens only. This study became interested in this 'carnation house' which has been carried out targeting the elderly living alone in Gyeonggi-do, and selected elementary universal design factors that should be applied to general residential environments of the aged people and analyzed the factors. As a case study, this research investigated four carnation houses as research subjects and came up with these following ideas about how to make improvements. First, the study found out that all the entrances did not have raised letters and that UD has not been satisfactorily applied to both the thresholds and the effective widths, and that is considered something to be fixed. Second, in case of regular rooms and living rooms, none of the rooms failed to have safety doorknobs which should have been installed and plus, thresholds and stepped pulleys need to be removed, Third, it goes the same with the kitchens, and the thresholds should be eliminated while cabinets are secured. In addition, furniture that understands the elderly's measurements should be used. Fourth, in terms of restrooms, they should be designed to be spacious enough not to cause anyone in wheelchairs inconvenience, and the study suggests that the effective widths should be widened and that both the safety doorknobs and the emergency calls must be installed. Basically, after the test on the UD adaptability, the study concluded that the application rates in connection with the adaptability were low which led the study to assume that such result has been gained due to the lack of installation standards in relation to the common living facilities of the elderly. The study now argues that purposes of buildings should be first clarified and then, these detailed space planning guidelines that deal with general characteristics of the aged people should be established.

• 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.

• 한국노년학
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.883-903
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• 2016

The purpose of the study is examining the mediation effect of caregiver burden's segmentalized sub factors between dementia caregivers on the relationship between Symptom extent of dementia patients and Suicidal Ideation of dementia caregiver, and suggesting social welfare intervention methods for dementia caregiver The survey is targeted to demented elderly people and caregivers, and currently using medical care institution and day care center in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Pusan city. As a result of the survey, 415 cases were collected for the final analysis. In data analysis process, we used SPSS 21.0 for the mediation effect of conversational satisfaction and its significance, and the results are following. First, 21% of the caregivers responded that they had thoughts of suicide in the past year. Second, Symptom extent of dementia patients was positively related to caregiver burden. Third, worse in family relationships, which is sub factors of mediate variable, has partial mediate effect on the model. Based on these outcomes, we suggest the importance and necessity of improved approach about dementia elderly and caregiver between elderly couple as way to reduce caregiver burden and proposed social work-based intervention program for enhancing this.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.181-201
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• 2016

Using a nationally representative sample from three recent waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study, this study examined the association between experiencing material hardship and suicidal ideation among low-income households in South Korea. Overall, we found that experiencing material hardship was associated with a higher likelihood of having suicidal ideation. We also found that, among individual items of material hardship, experiencing food insecurity or credit problems was associated with a higher likelihood of having suicidal ideation. Furthermore, we found that the association of experiencing material hardship with having suicidal ideation was more pronounced for male-headed or elderly-headed households. Policy implications to improve living condition among low-income households and reduce their suicide-related behavior were discussed.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.176-187
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence depression, suicidal thought, and life satisfaction of Korean elders. Method: The subjects for this study were 219 Korean elders living in three different provinces. The data was collected using structured questionnaires from October through December, 2007. Result: There were statistically significant differences in the levels of depression, suicidal thought, and life satisfaction according to age, health state, sleep state, economic state, feeling of loneliness, feeling of abuse, and having friends or neighbors. Suicidal thoughts correlated less with the above factors than depression did. Depression significantly correlated with age, life satisfaction, loneliness and suicidal thought. Suicidal thought was influenced significantly by depression. Life satisfaction was influenced significantly by depression, health state, and economic state. Conclusion: It could be concluded that nursing interventions for reducing depression and suicidal thought should be developed to improve life satisfaction and the health state of Korean elders as well as to relieve their feelings of loneliness.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.138-147
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• 2015

Purpose: The study was conducted to identify factors influence suicidal ideation among older adults with osteoarthritis. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design with secondary analysis of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Data for 174 men and 939 women who aged${\geq}65$, and were diagnosed osteoarthritis from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010~2012 were included. Suicidal idea, age, sex, education, marital status, living alone, income, body mass index, smoking and alcohol use, exercise, perceived health status, activity limitation, joint pain and stiffness, depressive mood, and perceived stress were measured. Influencing factors and odds ratios were analyzed using complex sample multivariate logistic regression. Results: In the results, 29.9% of the elderly with osteoporosis had suicidal idea. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of suicidal ideation were significantly higher among those over 80 years older (OR=2.88, 95% CI=1.49~5.58), those with depression (OR=4.01, 95% CI=2.66~6.04), and those with high levels of stress (OR=2.76, 95% CI=1.79~4.24). Conclusion: Therefore, older adults with osteoarthritis should be screened for depression and stress to decrease suicidal ideation and prevent suicide attempt.