The Relationship Between Depression, Perceived Social Support, and Suicide Risk in Natural Disaster Survivors

Abstract

Objective: Natural disasters often cause a wide array of post-traumatic psychological difficulties among survivors. Increased suicide risk was recently added to the list of lingering traumatic reactions that interfere with natural disaster survivors’ adjustment and recovery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between psychological symptoms, perceived social support, and the risk of suicide among natural disaster survivors in Korea.

Methods: A total of 451 Korean national disaster survivors participated in this study. Their depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms, perceived social support, and suicide risk were measured. The participants were classified into three groups (minimal, low, and high suicide risk), and the psychosocial factors of the three groups were compared.

Results: The risk of suicide increased with the severity of depressive symptoms and decreased as social support (particularly family support) increased. Depressive symptoms were identified as the most potent predictor of suicidality.

Conclusion: Several psychosocial factors, particularly depressive symptoms, may have an impact on suicide risk in natural disaster survivors. Therefore, it is essential to focus on their depressive symptoms when assessing and treating natural disaster survivors.