The Risk Factors of Suicidal Ideation according to Age Groups among the Adolescents in Korea

Article information

Korean J Health Promot. 2018;18(1):42-50

Publication date (electronic) : 2018 March 31

doi : https://doi.org/10.15384/kjhp.2018.18.1.42

Department of Nursing, Suwon Science College, Hwaseong, Korea.

Corresponding author: Eun-Kyung Kim, RN, PhD. Department of Nursing, Suwon Science College, 288 Seza-ro, Jeongnam-myun, Hwaseong 18516, Korea. Tel: +82-31-350-2430, Fax: +82-31-350-2076, ekkim430@ssc.ac.kr

Received 2018 January 31; Accepted 2018 March 05.

Abstract

Background

Suicide is the number one cause of youth death in Korea. Suicide rate differ by age groups. Suicide ideation provides useful information to understand and predict suicide. It is unclear whether the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation of adolescents differ among age groups. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation by age groups among the adolescents in Korea.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-3, 2012). The participants were divided into three age groups: the first adolescents (9–14 years, n=628), middle adolescents (15–19 years, n=361), and latter adolescents (20–24 years, n=276) groups. Multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis.

Results

The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 15.1% of first adolescents, 16.4% of middle adolescents, and 15.6% of latter adolescents, respectively. There was no difference on prevalence of suicidal ideation by age groups. Among risk factors of suicidal ideation, sex (female) was risk factor in the first and latter adolescents, depression and stress were risk factors in all age adolescents.

Conclusions

Suicide prevention in adolescents should be done from the upper grades of elementary school and focus on strategies to reduce depression and stress according to adolescents characteristics. Also, female adolescents should not overlook the high risk of suicidal ideation.

Keywords: Adolescent; Suicidal ideation; Risk factors; Age groups

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Korean Society for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

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Table 1

Characteristics by age groups (n=1,265)

Values are presented as number (%) or mean±standard error.

^a9–14 years.

^b15–19 years.

^c20–24 years.

^dCalculated by Rao-Scott chi-square test using complex sampling design.

Table 2

Suicidal ideation by participants' characteristics (n=1,265)

Values are presented as number (%).

^a9–14 years.

^b15–19 years.

^c20–24 years.

^dCalculated by Rao-Scott chi-square test using complex sampling design.

Table 3

Risk factors of suicidal ideation in adolescents according to age groups (n=1,265)

Values are presented as adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval).

^a9–14 years.

^b15–19 years.

^c20–24 years.

^dCalculated by multiple logistic regression using complex sampling design after adjustment for household income, place of residence, and pain/discomfort.