Risk factors of suicide ideation in younger-old and older-old persons: Using data from the korea health panel survey

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how ecological factors increase the risk of suicide ideation among the younger-old and the older-old. Methods: This study utilized the secondary data analysis study using 2016 Korea Health Panel Study data. A dataset of 3,346 people with 1,592 younger-old and 1,754 older-old was analyzed. To analyze the risk factors of suicide ideation among the old, x2 tests and hierarchical logistic regression were used. Results: Depression, anxiety for the future, and experience taking psychiatric medication increased the risk of suicide ideation in the younger-old [9.32 OR (95% CI: 4.85~17.91); 4.08 OR (95% CI: 1.88~8.84); 2.67 OR (95% CI: 1.3~5.43)]. An oral health problem, subjective health status, depression, anxiety for the future and experience of taking psychiatric medication increased the risk of suicide ideation in the older-old [2.16 OR (95% CI: 1.29~3.62); 2.58 OR (95% CI: 1.17~5.70); 2.94 OR (95% CI: 1.29~6.69); 5.70 OR (95 CI: 3.39~9.59); 3.17 OR (95 CI: 1.82~5.52); 3.18 OR (95 CI: 1.85~5.47)]. Conclusion: Specific strategies must be developed based on the influential factors of suicide ideation in the younger-old and the older-old, respectively.