Sociological Understandings of Elderly Suicide and Its Primary Prevention

노인자살의 이해와 일차적 예방

The rates and numbers of elderly suicide in Korea have been increased during 1985-1998. This indicates the seriousness of the problems which the elderly are faced with. So many late-life problems may push older people across the edges. Those in unbearable situations may call out fur helps, they may try to cope with various ways, or they may commit suicides. Because it is widely believed that suicide among the elderly can be understood as a personal solution or alternative to late-life problems in old age, the elderly\`s suicides seem to be an appropriate indicator in estimating seriousness of late-life problems. A comparison of the history of suicide research with other populations shows that the several late-life problems have been found with placing an individual elder at risks for increasing suicidal behaviors Research has identified such problems as financial insecurity, retirement, loss of social roles, physical illness, lack of social supports, and loneliness as the problems that increase the incidence of suicidal behavior. Though it is difficult far us to explain and understand the phenomenon of the elderly\`s suicide because of its complexity, we need to ascertain problems and social conditions behind suicides and also to prepare for some appropriate policy-tasks in light of social welfare for the aged, through examining the phenomenon. For explaining the elderly\`s suicide, the theoretical orientations are based on sociological perspectives in the paper. From the standpoints of social integration theory and exchange theory, this study is to examine the relationship between late-life problems and suicide. These two may have been fruitfully employed in conjunction with each other. Finally, this study would identify urgent late-life problems related with the elderly\`s suicide and suggest the relevant policies for Korean elders. Sometime in the near future, the government should be required to provide social welfare programs for the elderly, particularly for those at risk for increasing suicidal behaviors.

우리사회에서 노인 자살자의 수와 자살율이 지난 십 년간 지속적으로 증가하고 있다. 이는 한국 노인들이 당면하고 있는 문제들(경제적 불안정, 조기퇴직, 건강악화, 가족부양체계의 약화, 정서적 고립 등)의 심각성을 시사하고 있다. 하지만 노인자살에 관한 국내 연구는 거의 없는 실정이다. 노인자살현상에 대한 체계적인 연구를 통하여 자살의 배후에 있는 노인문제 혹은 생활조건을 확인하여 노인복지 차원에서 일차적 예방 대책을 강구하여야 할 것이다. 특히, 자살위험이 높은 특정 노인인구집단을 중심으로 자살예방 대책이 조속히 마련되어야 할 것이다. 따라서 이 연구는 우리 나라 노인문제의 구조적 상황과 노인자살과의 관련성을 사회학적 시각(교환이론과 사회통합이론)으로 조망해 본 후 이를 기초로 노인자살을 유도하는 노인생활의 조건을 개선할 수 있는 노인복지과제를 제시하여 한국노인의 자살율 증가를 예방하고자 하는데 그 주된 목적이 있다.