• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.81-105
• /
• 2010

This study is aimed to investigate the effects of stress on suicidal impulse, considering the mediating effects of existent spirituality, family support, and depression. The data, collected from 1,000 adults were examined by the statistics software SPSS 17.0 and AMOS 17.0, in which descriptive statistics, structural equation model analysis, and multi-group simultaneous analysis are utilized. The study shows that, from the structural equation modeling, the stress has positive effects on depression and suicidal impulses, but negative effects on existent spirituality. Existent spirituality acts as a protective factor, negatively affecting the suicidal impulse. Depression has positive effects on suicidal impulse. Therefore, existent spirituality and depression have mediational effects on the relationship between stress and suicidal impulse. The results of multi-group simultaneous analysis imply that there are no age and sex differences. In conclusion, social workers need to make great efforts to exterminate stress, and treat depression at the first priority, because the depression is a major sign of suicide. As a protective factor, strengthening existent spirituality is a very effective way to prevent a suicidal impulse.