Gender difference in socioeconomic factors affecting suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts among community-dwelling elderly: based on the Korea Community Health Survey

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to explore socioeconomic factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts among the local community’s resident elderly. METHODS: The subjects included 129,277 participants aged 65 years or above of the Korea Community Health Survey conducted in 2013 and 2017. Based on the questions for suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts, the subjects were divided into a no suicidal ideation group (n=111,344), a suicidal ideation group (n=17,487), and a suicidal attempt group (n=446). All analyses were stratified by gender, and a complex sample logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze associated factors. SAS version 9.4 was used for all analyses with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Common factors associated with suicidal ideation in both genders included marital status, frequency of contact with friends, social activity, and average monthly household income. Economic activity was demonstrated as relevant only to the elderly men subjects. According to the analysis, factors associated with suicidal attempts were the recipients of the National Basic Living Security Act for the elderly men compared to age, frequency of contact with family, frequency of contact with friends, and average monthly household income for the elderly women. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that socioeconomic factors leading to suicidal ideation were similar in the elderly of both genders, while a difference was demonstrated for factors associated with suicidal attempts between the elderly of both genders. It is expected that the results of this study may be used as the basis for screening the local community’s elderly with a high suicidal risk, and in the development of suicide prevention services.