The Influence of Marital Satisfaction on the Suicidal Ideation of the Elderly: Focusing on Mediating Effect of Depression

노인의 결혼만족도가 자살생각에 미치는 영향: 노년기 우울을 매개로 하여

The purpose of this study is to propose a theoretical model for understanding how marital satisfaction and depression may impact on suicide ideation of older people. This study was also focused on the mediating effect of depression. To achieve this purpose, a survey was conducted, and this sample was based on 194 older people aged over 65 living in Jeollabuk-Do, who had been participating in senior centers or in home care centers. A sampling method was the quota sampling using face to face interview, and an analysis method was the structural equation modeling. The main results testified by this study are as follows; First, the negative function of marital satisfaction had direct effect on the suicidal ideation and depression, while the positive function of depression had direct impacts on the suicidal ideation. Second, the depression mediated partially the association between marital satisfaction and suicidal ideation. This study theoretically contributes to the existing literatures documenting the impact of marital satisfaction on older people' suicide ideation. Not only that, but this study suggests practical and politic implication through these results.

본 연구의 목적은 결혼만족 정도가 우울을 매개로 하여 노인의 자살생각에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지를 이해하기 위한 이론적 모형을 제안하는데 있다. 분석을 위해 전라북도에 소재한 노인시설을 이용하는 65세 이상 노인 194명을 대상으로 1:1면접방식을 통해 자료를 수집하였다. 분석은 구조방정식 모형을 사용하였다. 분석결과를 정리하면 다음과 같다. 먼저 결혼만족도는 자살생각에 직·간접 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 결혼만족도는 우울에 유의미한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났으며, 우울과 자살생각도 유의미한 영향관계가 있음을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과를 기초로 실천적 함의를 제안하였다.