Korean Journal of Human Ecology (한국생활과학회지)

Korean Association of Human Ecology (한국생활과학회)
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The Effects of Family Ties on Suicidal Ideation of the Rural Elderly in Korea - Focused on the Meditating Effects of Community Consciousness -

가족유대감이 농촌 노인의 자살 생각에 미치는 영향 - 마을공동체 의식의 매개효과를 중심으로 -

  • Lee, Boram (Dept. of Family Environment & Welfare, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Lee, Jeonghwa (Dept. of Family Environment & Welfare, Chonnam National University)
  • 이보람 (전남대학교 생활환경복지학과) ;
  • 이정화 (전남대학교 생활환경복지학과)
  • Received : 2015.05.15
  • Accepted : 2015.11.17
  • Published : 2015.12.31
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Abstract

The suicide rate in South Korea has been the highest among the OECD countries for more than 10 years. In addition, the suicide rate among the rural elderly is much higher than that of the elderly in urban areas and that of younger generations. The purpose of this study was to examine the general tendencies of family ties, community consciousness and suicide ideation of the rural elderly in Korea. Also, this study aimed to verify the mediating effect of community consciousness between family ties and suicidal ideation. The data for this study came from 283 elderly people (over 65 years old) living in 11 villages in South Korea. The data was gathered from July to August 2013. Baron and Kenny's (1986) step based regression from the SPSS Win 18.0 program was used to analyze this data. This study also utilized the Sobel-test. The results of this study are as follows. First, the suicidal ideation of the respondents had a lower score than the median score. However, the magnitude of suicidal ideation was still significant. Second, this study found that family ties and community consciousness have both direct and indirect effects on the reduction of suicidal ideation. Lastly, this study examined the mediating effects of community consciousness. The findings of this study are of great significance because they reconfirmed the importance of establishing a social safety net in local communities to replace adult children who have relocated to urban areas.

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