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KMID : 0978920090100040352
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Korean Journal of Clinical Geriatrics
2009 Volume.10 No. 4 p.352 ~ p.363
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Factors Influencing on the Suicide-Related Behavior in Community Dwelling Korean Elders
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Cheon Jin-Sook
Byun In-Woo
Byun Hyun-Woo
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Abstract
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Background: The aims of this study were to disclose frequency of having suicide-related behavior in Korean elders, and to identify influencing factors on it.
Methods: To obtain demographic and suicide-related data for 100 (37 males and 63 femlaes) Korean elders with age over 60 who were living in Seoul, the structured interviews with questionnaires were performed by two university students who were blind to the subjects.
Results: During last one year, suicidal thoughts were experienced in 62% of Korean elders, and the most important motivations were family discord (24%), loneliness (19%), economic poverty (18%) and illnesses (8%) in order. The suicide attempts were performed only in 4% of Korean elders. The planning of suicide without attempt was occurred in 63% of Korean elders, and the most frequent reasons were guilt (24%), no courage (16%), for children (9%), feeling ugly (6%), fear (5%) and for spouse (3%). In regards of therapeutic intervention, the Korean elders having suicidal thoughts tried to overcome by themselves (44%), none (23%), religion (20%), doctor (6%), talking to family or friends(6%), and hot-line (1%). The most common Korean elders’ attitudes/values toward suicide were as following; suicide shoud not be performed because it is unforgivable sin (72%), suicide is not arguable because it is one’s own right (14%), suicide seemed to be better in case of terminal cancer (8%), and suicide with companion seemed to be better (6%). The suicidal thoughts had statistically significant correlation with sex (ρ=?0.339, P＜0.01), age (ρ=0.317, P＜0.01), monthly income (ρ=?0.198,P＜0.05), illnesses (ρ=0.357, P＜0.01), depression (ρ=?0.206, P＜0.05), cancer (ρ=?0.215, P＜0.05), arthritis (ρ=?0.204, P＜0.05), suicide planning without attempt (ρ=0.680, P＜0.01), motivation(ρ=?0.522, P＜0.01) and therapeutic intervention (ρ=?0.412, P＜0.01). 7) The suicide planning without attempt had statistically significant correlation with sex (ρ=?0.271, P＜0.01), monthly income (ρ=?0.272, P＜0.01), illnesses (ρ=0.297, P＜0.01), disc (ρ=?0.258, P＜0.01), suicidal thoughts(ρ=0.680, P＜0.01), motivation (ρ=?0.747, P＜0.01) and therapeutic intervention (ρ=?0.493, P＜
0.01). 8) The suicidal attempts had statistically significant correlation with educational levels (ρ=0.218,?0.562, P＜0.01).
Conslusions: Though the frequency of having suicidal thoughts in Korean elders was very high, actual attempt of suicide was rare. The most important factors influencing on the suicide-related behavior seemed to be family discord, loneliness, economic poverty, and mental and physical illnesses.
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KEYWORD
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Korean elder, Suicidal thought, Family discord, Loneliness, Economic poverty, Illnesses
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