J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2018 Nov;57(4):323-331. 10.4306/jknpa.2018.57.4.323.

The Correlation between Stress, Depression, and Social Relations of Korean Soldiers with a History of Suicidal Behavior

• Lee AY
• Lee HW
• Jo SJ
• Yim HW
• Jang SB
• Park JI

• KMID: 2426861
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2018.57.4.323

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study investigates the relationships between soldiers' social relations, stress, and depressive symptoms. We also investigated the effect of previous suicide-related behaviors on their correlations.
METHODS
This study was conducted on a total of 1000 soldiers. Study subjects were tested using clinical scales including the Korean Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, the Center for Epidemiological Studies for Depression Scale, the Worker's Stress Response Inventory and the Lubbens Social Network Scale-6. Sociodemographic characteristics and history of suicide-related behaviors were also examined. In order to investigate the relationships between stress, depression, and social relations in groups with and without a history of suicide-related behavior, one-way correlation analysis was performed.
RESULTS
Depressive symptoms and stress were positively correlated when sociodemographic factors are controlled, regardless of past history of suicide-related behaviors. Depressive symptoms and social relations showed a weak negative correlation. Furthermore, stress and social relations showed a weak negative correlation. When the stress response was additionally controlled, there was no significant correlation between depressive symptoms and social relations. There was a stronger correlation between the group with a history of suicide-related behavior and the group without suicide - related behavior.
CONCLUSION
There was a significant positive correlation between depressive symptoms and stress, and this correlation was greater in patients with a history of suicidal behavior than in those without prior suicidal behavior. In addition, social relations did not directly affect depressive symptoms but was found to mediate stress indirectly.

Keyword

Soldiers; Depression; Stress; Social relations; Suicide

MeSH Terms

Depression*
Epidemiologic Studies
Humans
Military Personnel*
Suicide
Weights and Measures

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