A Study on Factors Influencing the Suicidal Ideation in Elderly People who Live Alone or Live with Family

Jung Nam Sohn

doi:10.0000/jkapmhn.2012.21.2.118

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Sohn: A Study on Factors Influencing the Suicidal Ideation in Elderly People who Live Alone or Live with Family

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 2012; 21(2): 118-126.

Published online: 30 June 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/jkapmhn.2012.21.2.118

A Study on Factors Influencing the Suicidal Ideation in Elderly People who Live Alone or Live with Family

Jung Nam Sohn

Professor, Hanseo University, Department of Nursing, Seosan, Korea.

Corresponding author: Sohn, Jung Nam. Department of Nursing, Hanseo University, 360 Daegok-ri Haemi-myeon, Seosan 356-706, Korea. Tel: +82-41-660-1072, Fax: +82-41-660-1087, jnsohn@hanseo.ac.kr

Received 14 February 2012 Revised 4 June 2012 Accepted 25 June 2012

Abstract

Purpose

This study was done to compare suicidal ideation, depression, hopelessness, illness and self-esteem in elderly people who live alone or live with family.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected through questionnaires from 190 elderly people living alone and 188 elderly people living with family. Data analysis was done with SPSS/WIN 12.0.

Results

The scores for suicidal ideation, depression, hopelessness and illness of elderly people who live alone were higher than the scores of elderly people who live with family. Self-esteem in elderly people who live alone was lower than that of elderly people who live with family. There were significant differences in suicidal ideation of elderly people who live alone according to the demographic factors of frequency of social contact, disturbance of sleep, and status of employment. There were significant differences in suicidal ideation of elderly people who live with family according to the demographic factor of disturbance of sleep.

Conclusion

Results of this study indicate that elderly people who live alone are at higher risk for suicidal ideation than elderly people who live with family. Provision of services to reduce suicidal ideation is especially important for elderly people who live alone.

Keywords: Suicidal ideation, Depression, Chronic illness, Self-concept, Aged

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Differences in Suicidal Ideation according to Characteristics of Subjects (N=378)

^†Duncan test.

Table 2

Comparison of Suicidal Ideation, Hopelessness, Depression, Cumulative Illness, and Self-esteem according Who Live Alone or Live with Family (N=378)

Table 3

Correlations among Variables (N=378)

Notes

This work was supported by Hanseo University Research Fund 2011.

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