Gender-Specific Predictors of Suicidal Ideation Among Korean Older Adults: A 2-Year Prospective Study

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing gender-specific predictors associated with suicidal ideation among Korean older adults using a longitudinal study. Participants of this study were 926 older adults aged 65 years and above (583 women, 343 men) who completed both 2016 and 2018 surveys on Elderly Life Conditions in Chuncheon, Korea, and reported never having thought about suicide or attempted suicide at baseline. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the predictors (at baseline) of suicidal ideation (at 2-year follow-up) separately for each gender group. The results showed that among women, predictors of suicidal ideation were fearlessness about death (personal factor), filial responsibility (family factor), and social activities (social factor). However, among men, only psychological inflexibility (personal factor) predicted suicidal ideation. Results of this study provide evidence for the need to adopt separate strategies for each gender, taking the different predictors of suicidal ideation into account in the development of suicide prevention programs for older adults in Korea.

A scoping review exploring the ‘grey area’ of suicide-related expression in later life: Developing a conceptual framework for professional engagement

“…(2011) found higher rates of suicide ideation in men, Lyu et al . (2020) reported a statistically comparable prevalence of suicide ideation between older men and women. However, they found that predictors of suicide ideation were shown to differ between genders.…”

“…However, whilst gender plays a strong role in suicide rates in later life (Canetto, 1992), the relationship between gender and grey area behaviour expressions is less clear. For example, whilst Cukrowicz et al (2011) found higher rates of suicide ideation in men, Lyu et al (2020) reported a statistically comparable prevalence of suicide ideation between older men and women. However, they found that predictors of suicide ideation were shown to differ between genders.…”

Changes in the health status and health-related quality of life of community-dwelling older adults living alone: one-year follow-up from a cohort study

“…In our previous study, we investigated how health status is associated with the quality of life of older adults living alone, focusing on relationships that differ by gender ( 15 ). However, a regression analysis with a cross-sectional design is limited because it can only provide assumptions regarding positive correlations between variables from a specific perspective ( 16 ). Therefore, a longitudinal follow-up study is needed to be confident of an association based on an integrated model that affects the quality of life of older adults living alone.…”