여성노인의 자살생각에 영향을 미치는 요인분석

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A Study on Factors of Suicide of Elderly women.

CHUN LI Advisor : Prof. Jin-sook Kim, Ph.D Department of Social Welfare, Graduate School of Chosun University

Since the 20th century, the progress in the field of medical and pharmaceutical technology has been a wonderful gift of life extension for mankind by developing new technologies for preventing and treating the diseases. However, the extended average life span of human being is not only blessing but also cursing to them due to many elements. Negative consequences may appear to elderly people eventually choosing to commit suicide to escape several problems such as lack of money, the missing of role, chronic diseases and so on. According to the data announced by National Statistical Office, the aged population over 65 counts for 11.3% of the total population of 5,420,000 people which was 9.3% of population of 4,370,000 in 2005. Here, we can see that in this span, total population has increased by 24.3%. The population increase could prove that Korean society have entered into an aging society. In 2009, suicide rate increased to 31.0 per 100,000 people which is 19.3% increase from 26.0 a year before. On the age group of 60s, the suicide mortality rate was 51.8 per 100,000 people and that of age group of 70s was 79.0. In particular, for people aged more than 80, suicide death rate per 100,000 persons was 127.7 which is more than 5 times higher than that of people in 20s. So, the elderly suicide rate can be seen in a serious state (NSO, 2009). Among the 30 member countries of OECD having average suicide rates more than 11.3 per 100,000 per year, Korea is ranked number one position in elderly suicide rate which is 28.3 per 100,000 people (NSO, 2009). In 2008, people aging 65 of thinking suicide rate was 31.3% which was increased 3.4 % in 2001. The impulse of suicide (age 65 and over) from these 31.3% people is more towards women as the rate of women was double to that of men which was 19.2% and 39.3% respectively (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008). There are several reasons why older people may have committed suicide. For example, economic insecurity after retirement and suffering caused by disease and the companies being reluctant to recruit older people to improve the social atmosphere can be seen to act as factor for suicide (Kang hee sok, etc. 2000). Especially, Average life expectancy of the elderly women is higher than men and the average life span can be a factor as they might chose rather to suicide than to live degraded quality life. Hence, the age factors can be associated with suicide. Living of elder women is narrowly confined both socially and psychologically as compared to men due to adverse influence of Confucian tradition. Also, role in society of them is different than men and therefore society have different expectations of behavior by them. Elderly women have been involved in housework such as raising children and doing other household activities. Therefore, these roles of housewife make them depend on their husband even for their economy. Later, when they get aged, they go through numerous burdens such as retirement and therefore financial burdens, suffer from chronic diseases and even loss of dear and near such as their spouse etc. Additionally, some elderly women are also enduring the experience of the misery and suffering of untimely death of their close people such as due to accidents etc. As a result, surviving elderly life becomes really cumbersome for women. In these days, women aged over 60 years have spent their whole life supporting their parents, raising their children as a mother and serving as a housewife, but for themselves are not nearly ready for retirement. This survey was conducted by studying women aged 60 and above and residing in Gwangju, Korea. This study showed that depression, lowered self-esteem and the social and family support are some of the major factors which influence elderly women to commit suicide. By giving attention to these issues, we believe that the preventive measures can be undertaken in order to reduce the suicide rate by elderly women.

ABSTRACT

A Study on Factors of Suicide of Elderly women.

CHUN LI Advisor : Prof. Jin-sook Kim, Ph.D Department of Social Welfare, Graduate School of Chosun University

Since the 20th century, the progress in the field of medical and pharmaceutical technology has been a wonderful gift of life extension for mankind by developing new technologies for preventing and treating the diseases. However, the extended average life span of human being is not only blessing but also cursing to them due to many elements. Negative consequences may appear to elderly people eventually choosing to commit suicide to escape several problems such as lack of money, the missing of role, chronic diseases and so on. According to the data announced by National Statistical Office, the aged population over 65 counts for 11.3% of the total population of 5,420,000 people which was 9.3% of population of 4,370,000 in 2005. Here, we can see that in this span, total population has increased by 24.3%. The population increase could prove that Korean society have entered into an aging society. In 2009, suicide rate increased to 31.0 per 100,000 people which is 19.3% increase from 26.0 a year before. On the age group of 60s, the suicide mortality rate was 51.8 per 100,000 people and that of age group of 70s was 79.0. In particular, for people aged more than 80, suicide death rate per 100,000 persons was 127.7 which is more than 5 times higher than that of people in 20s. So, the elderly suicide rate can be seen in a serious state (NSO, 2009). Among the 30 member countries of OECD having average suicide rates more than 11.3 per 100,000 per year, Korea is ranked number one position in elderly suicide rate which is 28.3 per 100,000 people (NSO, 2009). In 2008, people aging 65 of thinking suicide rate was 31.3% which was increased 3.4 % in 2001. The impulse of suicide (age 65 and over) from these 31.3% people is more towards women as the rate of women was double to that of men which was 19.2% and 39.3% respectively (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008). There are several reasons why older people may have committed suicide. For example, economic insecurity after retirement and suffering caused by disease and the companies being reluctant to recruit older people to improve the social atmosphere can be seen to act as factor for suicide (Kang hee sok, etc. 2000). Especially, Average life expectancy of the elderly women is higher than men and the average life span can be a factor as they might chose rather to suicide than to live degraded quality life. Hence, the age factors can be associated with suicide. Living of elder women is narrowly confined both socially and psychologically as compared to men due to adverse influence of Confucian tradition. Also, role in society of them is different than men and therefore society have different expectations of behavior by them. Elderly women have been involved in housework such as raising children and doing other household activities. Therefore, these roles of housewife make them depend on their husband even for their economy. Later, when they get aged, they go through numerous burdens such as retirement and therefore financial burdens, suffer from chronic diseases and even loss of dear and near such as their spouse etc. Additionally, some elderly women are also enduring the experience of the misery and suffering of untimely death of their close people such as due to accidents etc. As a result, surviving elderly life becomes really cumbersome for women. In these days, women aged over 60 years have spent their whole life supporting their parents, raising their children as a mother and serving as a housewife, but for themselves are not nearly ready for retirement. This survey was conducted by studying women aged 60 and above and residing in Gwangju, Korea. This study showed that depression, lowered self-esteem and the social and family support are some of the major factors which influence elderly women to commit suicide. By giving attention to these issues, we believe that the preventive measures can be undertaken in order to reduce the suicide rate by elderly women.