J Agric Med Community Health.  2017 Sep;42(3):145-154. 10.5393/JAMCH.2017.42.3.145.

Suicidal Ideation of Elderly Living Alone in Urban and Rural Areas, its Related Factors

• Nam HJ
• Lee SG

• KMID: 2392723
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5393/JAMCH.2017.42.3.145

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study used data of urban and rural elderly living alone to compare the general characteristics of the elderly who have had suicidal ideation, and to investigate the suicidal ideation of urban-rural elderly with varying degrees of emotional support status, health status, and health behavior.
METHODS
AND MATERIALS: The research participants included 2,750 elderly aged 65 or above, of which 1,487 were from dong unit and 1,263 were from eup·myeon units according to the raw data of 2011 Survey on Elderly Status. All collected data were analyzed using cross tabulation of SPSSWIN(ver 21.0) program and multivariate logistic regression.
RESULTS
The results were as follows. First, the factors that influenced the suicidal ideation of urban and rural elderly living alone included degree of depression, experience of abuse, and nutritional management status. Second, the suicidal ideation of urban elderly living alone was affected by the emotional support of their children who live apart and their grandchildren. Third, the suicidal ideation of rural elderly living alone was affected by the emotional support of their kin (including siblings).

Keyword

Aged; Older people living alone; Suicidal ideation

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Child
Depression
Health Behavior
Humans
Logistic Models
Suicidal Ideation*