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Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Suicide | Research

Suicidal ideation associated with depression and social support: a survey-based analysis of older adults in South Korea

Authors: Bum Jung KIM, Taesuk KIHL

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

This study examined the effect of depression on suicidal ideation among older adults in South Korea. Furthermore, this study investigated how social support, as a factor that reduces depression among older adults, mediates the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation.

Methods

Based on a survey of 260 older adults in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, suicidal ideation, depression, and social support were evaluated using the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Measurement of Social Support in the Elderly, respectively.

Results

A multiple regression analysis confirmed that depression and social support were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Based on path analysis, we found that social support mediated the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation.

Conclusions

Therefore, this study provides concrete insights for policymakers and social workers about how suicidal ideation among older adults may be diminished. Particularly, the role of depression and social support in suicidal ideation is a matter of concern for older adults in South Korea.
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Metadata
Title
Suicidal ideation associated with depression and social support: a survey-based analysis of older adults in South Korea
Authors
Bum Jung KIM
Taesuk KIHL
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03423-8

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