Good Family Functioning May Reduce Suicide Ideation Among Suicide Survivors: Analysis of the Moderating Effect of Family Functioning

Background and Purpose: The suicide rate of South Korea has been highest among the OECD(Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries for the last 15 years, and suicide is a serious social problem in South Korea. As exposure to suicide in social relationships is known to increase suicidal ideation(Song et al., 2015), suicide is more socially influential in group-oriented societies such as South Korea. Despite the severity of mental health such as depression, suicidal thoughts experienced by suicide survivors (Jordan & MacIntosh, 2011; Pompili et al., 2008; Cerel et al., 2013), there is a lack of systematic research using large size community data and research about protective factors to reduce the risk of suicide. While Family functioning is known as a main protective factor to reduce suicidal ideation, little study has been conducted yet about family functioning as a protective factor to reduce suicidal risk among suicide survivors with a large dataset. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among exposure to suicide, family function, and suicidal ideation.

Methods: In order to investigate the buffering effect of family functioning on the relationship between exposure to suicide and suicidal ideation, data of 2,000 adults was analyzed by using the 1^st year data from the LoSS (Longitudinal Study on Suicide Survivors’ Mental Health) which is the first nationwide large size longitudinal study using stratified sampling based on the Korean Census Data. Participants responded to questions about their experience of exposure to suicide in social relationships. Family function was measured by Family APGAR (Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve) Scale(Smilkstein, 1978; Choi et al., 2000), and suicidal ideation was measured by Beck’s Scale(Beck, Kovacs, & Weissman, 1979; Lee, & Kwon, 2009) of Suicidal Ideation.

Results: The main effects of exposure to suicide was positively associated with increased suicidal ideation at the level of p<.000. Good family function significantly reduced suicidal ideation. Statistically significant interaction effect was found between the two variables on suicidal ideation (t=-4.424, p=.000). When people experience suicide in their relationships, having good family functioning lessens the suicidal ideation than having poor family functioning.

Conclusions and Implications: These findings support that family function has a protective effect on suicidal ideation when people are exposed to suicide. Based on the findings, the role of family functioning as a supportive resource for suicide survivors is discussed from formal and informal dimensions. Clinical intervention such as family education should be targeted especially for suicide survivors.