Influence of Life Stress, Depression, and Social Support on Suicidal Ideation among Middle-Aged Women in South Korea

Abstract

This study of middle-age women in South Korea was conducted to understand the life stress, depression, social support, and suicidal ideation; to verify the variables related to suicidal ideation; and to confirm the factors contributing to suicidal ideation among middle-aged women in South Korea. Data were collected from 197 female subjects aged 40-64 in South Korea using a self-administered questionnaire. T-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, correlation analysis, and multiple regressions were used to analyze this data through the SPSS, WIN 18.0. The mean score of life stress, depression, social support, and suicidal ideation was 12.9, 13.8, 51.1, and 4.9, respectively. Life stress is positively correlated with both depression and suicidal ideation, but negatively correlated with social support which is negatively correlated with life stress, depression, and suicidal ideation. Depression (β=.43, p<.001) and social support (β=-.21, p=.002) influenced on suicidal ideation. These findings contribute to our understanding and prevention of suicidal ideation in middle-aged women. Based on these findings, we suggest that the development of a social network and multi-disciplinary interventions be utilized implemented to ameliorate depression and related suicidal ideation in Korean middle-aged women.