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Suicidal ideation and associated factors by sex in Korean adults: a population-based cross-sectional survey

  • Original Article
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International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objective

This study investigates suicidal ideation and its associated factors by sex in Korean adults, focusing on health behaviors and health status.

Methods

Cross-sectional data of 6,969 adults (25–64 years) who completed the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed.

Results

In both sexes, those who were married, had higher educational attainment or were non-smokers experienced low stress and had good self-rated health showed lower suicidal ideation. Significant factors were age for men and subjective body image and sleep time for women. In men, those aged 45–54 years showed the highest suicidal ideation rate. The effects of stress and depression on suicidal ideation were higher in men than in women.

Conclusions

The development of a suicide prevention program for Korean adults requires different approaches for each sex. For working men aged 45–54 years, it should focus on the management of work-related stress and depression. For women, it should be a community support program for those who are less educated, have no job or experience a great deal of stress and depression.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Chungbuk, South Korea

    Young Ran Chin

  2. Department of Health Administration, Dongseo University, San 69-1, Jurae-dong, Sasang-gu, Busan, 617-716, South Korea

    Hyo Young Lee

  3. Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

    Eun Sun So

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  1. Young Ran Chin
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  2. Hyo Young Lee
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Correspondence to Hyo Young Lee.

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Chin, Y.R., Lee, H.Y. & So, E.S. Suicidal ideation and associated factors by sex in Korean adults: a population-based cross-sectional survey. Int J Public Health 56, 429–439 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-011-0245-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-011-0245-9

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