Citation

Lee SY, Atteraya MS. Int. J. Aging Hum. Dev. 2019; 88(1): 46-59.

Affiliation

1 Department of Social Welfare, 26722 Keimyung University , Daegu, South Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Baywood Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0091415018768256

PMID

29673253

Abstract

We examined to what extent the depression, poverty, and elder abuse experience affect suicide ideation among older Koreans. The data from the Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Persons were used. A sample of 10,279 members was analyzed. Logistic regression analysis revealed that younger old (65-69 years) were more likely to have suicide ideation that oldest old (80 years and older). After including all predicting variables such as depression, poverty, and abuse experience, results showed that depression, poverty, and abuse experience remained predictors for suicide ideation. Higher level of depression ( OR = 1.19) was positively associated with suicide ideation. Poor older person ( OR = 1.59) and those who experienced abuse ( OR = 2.37) were more likely to have suicide ideation than their counterparts. We conclude that suicide prevention policy needs to take a holistic approach, which integrates the mental health of the older people, family welfare, and economic well-being.

Language: en

Keywords

abuse experience; depression; poverty; suicide ideation; the Republic of Korea