title: Factors that affect suicidal attempt risk among korean elderly adults: a path analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Among the Korean elderly (those 65 years of age and older), the suicide rate is 80.3/100 000 people, which is ten times higher than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average. Because South Korea is rapidly becoming an aging population, this high elderly suicidal rate will only get worse. Although the size of the elderly suicide problem is quite large, previous research in South Korea has surveyed restricted areas and not the entire country. Even though the factors that affect elderly suicide are complicated, there has been little research into these influencing factors. Thus, this research uses the national survey data (Community Health Survey) that was obtained in 2009. Additionally, we analyze factors affecting elderly suicidal ideation and attempts as well as the paths of these effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community Health Survey data obtained by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2009 was used for this study. We additionally examined the factors that affect suicide with chi-squared tests, t-tests, Pearson's correlation test, and path analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation are the only factors that directly affect suicidal attempts. Demographic, behavioral, and physical activity factors have indirect effects on suicidal attempts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression has the strongest influence on suicidal ideation and attempts. Demographic, behavioral, and physical activity factors affect suicidal attempts mostly through depressive symptoms. In addition, there is a path that suggests that demographic, behavioral, and physical activity factors affect suicidal attempts not through depression symptoms but only through suicidal ideation. This means that the elderly who do not have depression symptoms attempt suicide according to their own situations and characteristics.
authors: Department of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Junsoo
authors: J
authors: Ro
authors: National Health Insurance Service, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jongheon
authors: J
authors: Park
authors: Department of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Institute of Health Policy and Management, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jinsuk
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hyemin
authors: H
authors: Jung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003863:Depression; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009043:Motor Activity; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Aged; Attempted suicide; Community Health Survey; Path analysis
references: Gerontology. 2003 Sep-Oct;49(5):328-34
references: 12920354
references: Arch Intern Med. 2004 Jun 14;164(11):1179-84
references: 15197042
references: Lancet. 2009 Sep 12;374(9693):881-92
references: 19748397
references: Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1995 Spring;25(1):180-92
references: 7631371
references: Int Psychogeriatr. 1995 Summer;7(2):137-48
references: 8829423
references: Hosp Community Psychiatry. 1990 Dec;41(12):1334-9
references: 2276727