Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of self-esteem, elderly abuse, and depression on suicidal ideation among elderly people with and without spouses. A descriptive correlation study design was used. The study established a convenience sample consisting of 451 elderly people older than 65 (233 with spouse and 218 without spouse) recruited from urban areas. SPSS Win20.0 was used for the descriptive analysis, t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis, and multiple-regression analysis. For the subjects with spouse, suicidal ideation had a significant positive correlation with emotional abuse, verbal abuse, and depression, and a significant negative correlation with low self-esteem. The main factors found to contribute to suicidal ideation were perceived health status (B=.155 and p=.012), low self-esteem (B=?.141 and p=.031), and emotional abuse (B=.340 and p=.001). For the subjects without spouse, suicidal ideation had a significant positive correlation with emotional abuse, verbal abuse, abandonment, and depression, and a significant negative correlation with low self-esteem. The main factor found to contribute most to suicidal ideation was depression (B=.173 and p=.047). The results of this study indicate that for elderly people with spouse, poor health, low self-esteem, and experience of emotional abuse place them at high risk for suicidal ideation, whereas for elderly people without spouse, depression was the primary factor that puts them at high risk. Thus, it is important to provide services to reduce suicidal ideation among elderly people. (Korean J Str Res 2015;23:27∼37)

• Keywords: Self-esteem, Elderly abuse, Depression, Suicidal ideation