Determinants of suicidal ideation in older adults: evidence from a national panel study in South Korea

This study aims to identify determinants of suicidal ideation (SI) among older adults in South Korea, with a specific focus on general characteristics, depression, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Given the country's status as the fastest-aging OECD nation with the highest suicide rate among older adults, examining these factors is critical to informing public health strategies.

Data were drawn from the 2023 wave of the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS), including responses from 5,736 individuals aged 65 years and more. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS 26.0 to identify significant predictors of suicidal ideation.

Findings revealed that age (OR = 2.442, p < 0.001), depression (OR = 0.920, p < 0.001), self-esteem (OR = 1.115, p < 0.001), and life satisfaction (OR = 1.095, p = 0.012) were significant predictors of suicidal ideation. In contrast, other general characteristics such as gender, income, and perceived health status were not statistically significant predictors. The study highlights the influence of sociocultural changes, including weakening of traditional family support systems, on mental wellbeing of older adults.

Psychological and subjective wellbeing factors play a critical role in suicidal ideation among older adults. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive screening and community-based interventions. Sociocultural shifts-such as weakening traditional family support systems-highlight the urgency of holistic, culturally informed suicide prevention strategies.