earticle

영어

This correlational study provides basic data concerning important factors influencing suicide dimensions among the elderly by determining the characteristics of health behavior among the elderly and analyzing their association with suicide. This study used primitive data from “The 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the 1st year (2013)” conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 2,458 study subjects aged over 55 participated in this study. Statistical analysis of the study data was performed using SPSS 21.0. Frequency analysis was performed on the sociodemographic characteristics of the subjects, and a Chi-squared test was used to examine the correlations between the study variables in relation to the sociodemographic characteristics of the subjects. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the odds ratio for the correlation analysis. The results of this study were as follows. First, variations in suicide dimension factors according to elderly classifications and the presence of chronic diseases showed statistically significant differences in relation to the presence of economic activities, the presence of a spouse, and overall health behavior factors. Second, of all the main factors that affect suicide dimensions, the presence of a spouse, subjective health status, restriction of physical activities, and stress level were shown to have statistically significant effects. To reduce the suicide dimensions of the elderly, it will be necessary to help them escape chronic diseases, increase their physical functions with regular physical activities and health status maintenance, and manage their depression, which is the first stage of the suicide dimension. This can only be accomplished by developing social programs based not only on individual efforts but also on an accurate understanding of the elderly population.