The Mediating Effect of Depression on Spousal Emotional Abuse and Suicidal Ideation of the Elderly Korean

Background/Purpose: The elderly suicide rate in South Korea was the highest among the member nations of the OECD, and elderly suicide has become a serious problem that cannot be ignored. The elderly suicide is required to social welfare alternatives because it has decisive effect on the elderly’s life and needs social costs with related problems. Meanwhile, the individual’s psychological factors and family factors have addressed the critical factors associated with suicide among the elderly.

The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility that depression is likely to increase the suicidal ideation produced by spousal emotional abuse.

Methods: Data and samples: The research model was tested by using the Statistical Equation Modeling (SEM) procedure on a data conducted from ‘2013 Korean Welfare Panel Study’, a cross-sectional general population survey performed in 2013 by Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in South Korea. We merged the household data and the member of household data. A total of 5,456 subjects aged 65 years and older was analyzed.  

Measures: First, suicidal ideation measured whether or not respondents have thought about suicide. Second, spousal emotional abuse measured whether he or she has experienced emotional violence by a spouse like insulting and malicious remarks. Third, we used modified CES-D scale (The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale) based on the factor structures of scale.

Results: It was found that spousal emotional abuse and depression enhances suicidal ideation. It was also discovered that depression partially mediates the relationship between spousal emotional abuse and suicidal ideation.

Conclusions and Implications: According to the findings of this study, the relationship between spousal emotional abuse and the suicidal ideation may reside in depression, and that depression is a very crucial factor in suicidal ideation of elderly. Also, the findings suggest interventions to reduce suicidal ideation with the aim of reducing depression and preventing spousal emotional abuse in these groups. This study contributes to extend understanding of elderly Korean suicidal ideation because not much research has been conducted in the relationship between spousal emotional abuse, depression and suicidal ideation in South Korea. More researches are required to be undertaken to explore the role of depression and spousal emotional abuse within this area.