Gender-Specific Predictors of Suicidal Ideation Among Korean Older Adults: A 2-Year Prospective Study

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing gender-specific predictors associated with suicidal ideation among Korean older adults using a longitudinal study. Participants of this study were 926 older adults aged 65 years and above (583 women, 343 men) who completed both 2016 and 2018 surveys on Elderly Life Conditions in Chuncheon, Korea, and reported never having thought about suicide or attempted suicide at baseline. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the predictors (at baseline) of suicidal ideation (at 2-year follow-up) separately for each gender group. The results showed that among women, predictors of suicidal ideation were fearlessness about death (personal factor), filial responsibility (family factor), and social activities (social factor). However, among men, only psychological inflexibility (personal factor) predicted suicidal ideation. Results of this study provide evidence for the need to adopt separate strategies for each gender, taking the different predictors of suicidal ideation into account in the development of suicide prevention programs for older adults in Korea.