Analysis of risk factors affecting suicidal ideation in South Korea by life cycle stage

Article information

Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2021;12(5):314-323

Publication date (electronic) : 2021 October 26

doi : https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2021.0208

Ji-Young Hwang¹, Il-Su Park^,2

¹Community Health Survey Team, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea

²Department of Healthcare Management, Dong-eui University, Busan, Korea

Corresponding author: Il-Su Park Department of Healthcare Management, Dong-eui University, 176 Eomgwang-ro, Busan 47340, Korea E-mail: ispark@deu.ac.kr

This paper is a revised and supplemented version of the first author’s master’s thesis from Uiduk University.

Received 2021 July 29; Revised 2021 September 15; Accepted 2021 October 12.

Abstract

Introduction

The death rate due to suicide in South Korea is 24.6 per 100,000 persons, ranking first among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries [1]. Suicide is among the top 5 causes of death in South Korea according to national statistics [2]. In 2017, it ranked first among causes of death in 10s, 20s and 30s, second in aged 40s and 50s, and fourth in aged 60 or older [2]. Therefore, recognizing suicide as a serious social problem (i.e., not just a personal problem), identifying the main factors associated with suicide, and preparing measures to prevent suicide are important policy issues in South Korea. Research on suicide is actively underway. Because it is impossible to enroll people who have actually committed suicide as participants in studies, researchers have analyzed suicide notes or conduct research among people who survived suicide attempts [3−5], but it is difficult to obtain representative results using these methods [6].

Suicidal ideation, which is used as the primary indicator for predicting suicide, is a decisive factor that leads to actual suicide by functioning as a prerequisite for suicide planning and suicide attempts [7,8]. A study of risk factors for suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, and suicide attempts in 17 countries reported that participants with suicidal ideation were at high risk of planning and attempting suicide within a year [9]. Therefore, if a study aims to identify risk factors for suicide with the goal of applying the results for suicide prevention, it may be more effective to study those who have considered suicide rather than focusing only on those who have attempted suicide [10].

In 2010, Japan had the second-highest suicide rate among OECD countries, but its suicide rate thereafter declined for 6 years, and it ranked fifth in 2017 [1]. It has been reported that Japan's government-wide suicide program had a significant impact on the continuing decline in the suicide rate. In particular, this anti-suicide program implemented generation-specific measures to prevent suicide beyond efforts targeting national and regional levels [11]. Japan's systematic suicide prevention strategy has substantial implications for suicide prevention measures and related policies in South Korea. In order to establish an anti-suicide policy, it is necessary to select a clear and specific target and develop and implement a program accordingly. Most previous studies on suicide-related factors in South Korea were conducted in specific age groups, and some previous studies were limited to certain stages of the life cycle, such as adolescence, adulthood, and old age [12−16]. Thus, the range of selection of subjects for research has been quite limited.

Suicide is an extreme act stemming from various motives, negative life events, or stress. It is difficult to explain suicide in terms of any single specific reason, biological, psychological, or socioeconomic cause, or cultural values [17]. Developmental characteristics, developmental tasks to be achieved, and experiences of the surrounding environment vary throughout the life cycle [18]. Therefore, individuals also face different psychological, social, economic, and cultural issues at various stages in life. For this reason, studies aiming to identify risk factors for suicidal ideation should analyze this phenomenon with more subdivided from a life cycle perspective, instead of limiting the analysis to specific regions and age groups.

This study analyzed risk factors for suicidal ideation among adolescents (12−19 years), young adults (20−39 years), middle-aged adults (40−64 years), and older adults (65 years or older) from a life cycle perspective. Based on the results of this study, we discuss the necessity of establishing policies for life cycle–specific suicide prevention measures and present directions for future initiatives.

Materials and Methods

Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed using SAS ver. 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). The statistical analysis reflected the complex sampling design, and all analyzes used survey sample weights to derive unbiased estimates for data analysis. The Rao-Scott chi-square test was performed to analyze differences in suicidal ideation according to demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors by life cycle stage. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors influencing suicidal ideation according to life cycle stage. The model's predictive accuracy was identified using C-statistics. The overall framework of the study is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Framework of the study.

KNHANES, Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; N, weighted n; QOL, quality of life.

Results

Participant Characteristics by Life Cycle

The number of participants was 5,935 among those aged 12 and older who took part in the 6th KNHANES, which was conducted in 2015, after the exclusion of those who did not answer the suicidal ideation question. By life cycle stage, 10.3% of participants were adolescents (12−19 years), 22.7% were young adults (20−39 years), 43.7% were middle-aged (40−64 years), and 23.3% were older adults (over 65 years).

In all age groups except for those aged 65 and older, the number of male participants exceeded the number of female participants. There were more households where 2 or more people lived together than single households, and most participants lived in cities. These demographic characteristics differed significantly by life cycle (p<0.001). The most common household income level was middle, followed in descending order by low and high, with the exception of those aged 65 and older. The most common education level in the young and middle-aged group was high school graduation or higher, whereas elementary school graduation or lower was the most common in older adults (p<0.001). Those aged 65 or older were most likely to experience depression, have poor subjective health status, have restrictions on activity, and not engage in exercise. Stress was highest in the 20 to 39 age group, and in the 12 to 19 age group, sleep was the most inadequate and participants were most likely to perceive themselves as having a low quality of life (p<0.001) (Table 1).

Table 1.

General characteristics of the study population (n=5,935)

Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation by Life Cycle Stage

The prevalence of suicidal ideation was the highest among older adults. The rate of suicidal ideation was 5.7% in participants who were 12 to 19 years old, 3.7% in those aged 20 to 39 years, 5.4% in those aged 40 to 64 years, and 7.0% in those who were 65 years and older (p=0.012) (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Suicidal ideation by life cycle stage.

Table 2 presents a comparison of the prevalence of suicidal ideation by participants’ characteristics. In the 12 to 19 age group, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was higher in female participants (χ²=4.68, p=0.031), people with depression (χ²=49.64, p<0.001), high levels of stress (χ²=35.67, p<0.001), poor perceived health status (χ²=17.56, p<0.001), and activity restrictions (χ²=26.89, p<0.001). The percentage of participants with suicidal ideation was also significantly higher among people with a quality-of-life score of 0.71 to 0.90 (χ²=73.83, p<0.001). In the 20 to 39 age group, the prevalence of suicidal ideation differed significantly depending on participants’ level of education (χ²=22.32, p<0.001). Suicidal ideation was also more prevalent among those with depression (χ²=178.88, p<0.001), high levels of stress (χ²=45.58, p<0.001), and poor perceived health status (χ²=56.68, p<0.001). The percentage of participants with suicidal ideation was also significantly higher among people with a quality-of-life score of 0.71 to 0.90 (χ²=20.92, p<0.001) and inappropriate sleep time (χ²=4.89, p=0.027). In the middle-aged group (40−64 years), suicidal ideation was more prevalent among those living alone (χ²=9.28, p=0.002) and participants with a low household income (χ²=50.82, p<0.001) and low education level (χ²=49.07, p<0.001). The prevalence of suicidal ideation was significantly higher in participants with depression (χ²=310.84, p<0.001), high levels of stress (χ²=85.15, p<0.001), poor perceived health status (χ²=43.18, p<0.001), and activity restrictions (χ²=60.01, p<0.001). Significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation were found among people with a quality-of-life score of 0.71 to 0.90 (χ²=42.60, p<0.001), inappropriate sleep time (χ²=18.89, p<0.001), and no medium-intensity physical activity (χ²=4.30, p=0.038). In older adults (over 65 years), the prevalence of suicidal ideation was significantly higher in women (χ²=4.28, p=0.039), participants who lived alone (χ²=11.65, p=0.001), and those who lived in rural areas (χ²=6.23, p=0.013). Suicidal ideation was more prevalent among those with depression (χ²=130.43, p<0.001), high levels of stress (χ²=86.97, p<0.001), poor perceived health status (χ²=25.82, p<0.001), and activity restrictions (χ²=12.63, p<0.001). The rate of suicidal ideation was significantly higher among people with a quality-of-life score lower than 0.7 (χ²=13.74, p=0.001), inappropriate sleep time (χ²=14.41, p<0.001), and no medium-intensity physical activity (χ²=5.82, p=0.016).

Table 2.

Prevalence of suicidal ideation based on general characteristics by life cycle stage (n=5,935)

Factors Contributing to Suicidal Ideation by Life Cycle Stage

Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the factors contributing to suicidal ideation were different for each life cycle stage (Table 3). The first model was developed to identify factors affecting suicidal ideation in adolescents (12−19 years). The model's predictive accuracy was 88.2%, and suicidal ideation was 10.98 times more common among those who had depression than among those who did not (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.98–40.40). The risk of suicidal ideation was 5.33 times higher among participants with high levels of stress than among those with low levels of stress (95% CI, 1.51–18.85) and 5.91 times greater among those with activity limitations than among those who did not (95% CI, 1.60–21.84). In other words, the factors affecting suicidal ideation at the age of 12 to 19 were depression, stress, and activity restrictions.

Table 3.

Factors contributing to suicidal ideation by life cycle (n=5,935)

The second model was developed to identify factors contributing to suicidal ideation in young adults (20–39 years), and the model's predictive accuracy was 90.4%. Suicidal ideation risk was 6.56 times higher in those with a middle school education than in the high school graduation or higher group (95% CI, 1.33–32.32). Suicidal ideation was more common among those who reported depression (odds ratio [OR], 17.99; 95% CI, 6.51–49.68), high levels of stress (OR, 4.41; 95% CI, 1.65–11.79), and poor health status (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.24–6.09).

The predictive accuracy of the third model, which was constructed to predict the risk of suicidal ideation in middle-aged adults, was 87.5%. In this group (40–64 years), suicidal ideation risk was 2.76 times higher in those with an elementary school or lower education than in the high school graduation or higher group (95% CI, 1.46–5.20). The risk for suicidal ideation was 10.98 times higher among those who had depression than those who did not (95% CI, 6.30–19.16) and was 2.11 times greater among those with high levels of stress than among those with low levels of stress (95% CI, 1.14–3.87). Activity restrictions (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.00–3.45) and low perceived quality of life (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.01–7.59) also significantly affected the likelihood of suicidal ideation.

The final model was developed to show factors affecting suicidal ideation in older adults (65 years and older). Suicidal ideation among older people was found to be affected by depression (OR, 5.98; 95% CI, 3.39–10.54), stress (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.69–6.24), and sleep time (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.08–3.73), with 82.9% predictive accuracy.

Discussion

This study aimed to contribute to the development of suicide prevention and suicide management programs and the generation of basic data for policy establishment by identifying factors that affect suicidal ideation from a life cycle perspective. Statistically significant differences in suicidal ideation were found across life cycle stages. Suicidal ideation was most common (7.0%) in older adults, followed by adolescents (5.7%), middle-aged adults (5.4%), and young adults (3.7%). These results are similar to the findings of previous studies that above the age of 20 years, suicidal ideation increased with age. A previous study using Korean Health Panel data reported that the prevalence of suicidal ideation was 4.4% in the 19 to 39 years group and 5.6% in the 40 to 64 years group [20]. Lee’s study [8] using Korean Psycho-Social Anxiety Survey data reported that the prevalence of suicidal ideation was 4.5% in the 19 to 39 years group, 6.7% in the 40 to 64 years group and 10.5% in the 65 years and older group. This shows that policies to prevent suicide in older adults should be prioritized. The results of this study are different from those of a previous study that reported suicidal ideation in 12.8% of adolescents [21]. This discrepancy is thought to have been caused by differences in the method and time of sampling.

The analysis in the present study of factors affecting suicidal ideation by life cycle stage showed that suicidal ideation was higher among those who were depressed or stressed in all age groups. Suicide reflects an individual's internal psychological state, and depression and stress are representative variables that indicate this psychological state. The effects of depression and stress on suicidal ideation have already been demonstrated in several previous studies [8,12,13,21]. Depression refers to the results of negative perceptions of oneself and emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, failure, loss, lethargy, and worthlessness [22], which are very closely related to suicide, as studies have shown that about 50% to 87% of people who commit suicide have depression at the time of suicide. In addition, stress refers to the psychological and physical tension a person feels when he or she is in an environment to which adaptation is difficult. If stress accumulates, people experience anxiety and tension, and long-term stress can lead to serious thoughts of suicide [23].

The impact of activity restrictions on suicidal ideation was significant in adolescents. These results are consistent with the findings of a prior study reporting that activity-restricted adolescents were 3.86 times more likely to consider suicide than their counterparts [21]. In a study of protective factors against youth suicide, the result that physical and mental health were the personal health characteristics with the most important impact on suicide supports the finding of this study that activity-restricted adolescents had a high risk of suicidal ideation [24]. This finding suggests the need for suicide prevention programs aiming to improve the physical health of adolescents and policies that can support adolescents with activity restrictions.

In the 20 to 39 age group, the factors influencing suicidal ideation were education level and subjective health status, and in the 40 to 64 age group, significant relationships were found for education level, activity restrictions, and quality of life. These results are consistent with the findings of a previous study, which found that educational level was a risk factor for suicidal ideation in young and middle-aged adults [8]. In general, education helps people achieve their life goals [25], and it can be inferred that low education levels among young and middle-aged adults may have affected suicidal ideation because of the potential link between low education levels and low social status and a vulnerable working environment. The previous finding that 84.2% of those who attempted suicide were high school graduates or below suggests the need to pay close attention to the possibility of suicidal ideation in people with low education levels [26]. In previous studies, subjective health status has been reported as a risk factor for suicidal ideation [27,28]. Subjective health status refers to an individual's judgment of one's health, which may differ from the individual’s actual health status. Not only does this individual judgment affect physical and psychological health, daily life, and quality of life [29,30], but dissatisfaction with health conditions can also cause problems in social interaction, potentially contributing to suicidal ideation. Activity restrictions in middle-aged women were found to have a significant impact on health-related quality of life [31], and low quality of life functioned as a mediating factor in suicidal behavior in people with depression [32]. Therefore, health policies for middle-aged adults should aim not only to prevent and manage diseases, but also to enhance physical functionality, thereby preventing activity restrictions and promoting the maintenance of high quality of life.

Sleep time significantly affected suicidal ideation in those aged 65 years or older. In a study of adults in Taiwan, a U-shaped curve was proposed for the relationship between sleep time and suicide, with both short sleep time and sleep times of more than 8 hours associated with an increased risk of suicide, supporting this study [33]. This finding also partially aligns with previous studies that shorter sleep times in older adults can significantly increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation [34]. It remains unclear whether sleep problems are a symptom of depression or whether sleep problems themselves can lead to suicide, but several studies have established that sleep has a significant association with suicide [35]. Sleep patterns can be changed; therefore, identifying and implementing ways to improve sleep problems could make an important contribution to reducing the risk of suicide. Insomnia is triggered by various causes such as biological factors (e.g., a genetic predisposition), environmental factors (e.g., economic difficulties), and psychological causes (e.g., death of children and family members). When a clinician encounters an older adult who complains of insomnia, the focus should not be limited to insomnia symptoms; instead, the clinician should try to listen to and empathize with the psychological phenomena that underlie insomnia symptoms [36].

Suicidal ideation is caused by a combination of factors. Thus, it is necessary to identify risk factors specific to each generation and adopt a multifaceted approach to prevent suicide. The conclusions based on the results of this study are as follows. First, establishing a suicide prevention plan requires the development and implementation of individualized programs for each stage of the life cycle. The results of Japan's generational suicide prevention measures support the need to implement such a policy [11]. Second, it is necessary for the state to prepare depression and stress management measures to prevent suicide and to actively put them into practice. Third, sleep time should be monitored and managed in older adults, and efforts should be made to identify the causes and effects of both excessive and insufficient sleep. In this study, KNHANES data were used to comprehensively identify the prevalence of suicidal ideation and related factors by life cycle. However, the data used in this study should not be compared on a yearly basis, as the wording of questions about suicide has varied across waves of the KNHANES. As a result, a limitation of this study is that it only used data from the 2015 KNHANES. Another limitation of this study is that it only analyzed suicidal ideation as a predictor of suicide because few participants reported suicide plans and suicide attempts. Therefore, follow-up research should identify variations in suicidal ideation over time and analyze suicide plans, suicide attempts, and factors that lead to suicide. Furthermore, to support the development of more specific and efficient policies, in-depth research should be conducted from a life cycle perspective that considers regional characteristics.

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