Social relationships, depressive symptoms and suicidality in Korea

Examining mediating and moderating effects in men and women

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19273657
AutoresM A Lee (0000-0002-5551-9745, Chung-Ang University, autor de correspondencia), Min-Ah Lee (Chung-Ang University)
Año2016
Volumen62
Número1
Páginas67-75
Fecha de publicación2016-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Social Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0020-7640 • E-ISSN: 1741-2854
EditorialSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0020764015592434
PMID26148696
OpenAlexW1524457919
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas29

BACKGROUND: It has been widely recognized that social relationships and depressive symptoms predict suicidality. However, there are few empirical studies examining relationships among these three factors using an integrative approach. AIMS: This study aimed to examine the effects of perceived quality of social relationships and depressive symptoms on suicidality and to analyze whether the effect of perceived quality of social relationships on suicidality is mediated by depressive symptoms or whether the perceived quality of social relationships has a moderating effect on the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidality in men and women. METHODS: The data were drawn from the 2012 Korean General Social Survey, a nationally representative survey. Multiple regression models and subsample analyses were conducted according to gender. RESULTS: A higher perceived quality of social relationships decreased suicidality while depressive symptoms increased suicidality. The effect of perceived quality of social relationships was partially mediated by depressive symptoms. Perceived quality of social relationships also significantly interacted with depressive symptoms, suggesting that the harmful effect of depressive symptoms was ameliorated as perceived quality of social relationships increased. A subsample analysis according to gender, however, indicated a significant gender difference in that the perceived quality of social relationships moderated the effect of depressive symptoms only in women. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that enhanced quality of social relationships can protect people from suicidal risk and are more effective for women with depressive symptoms than for men with the same symptoms

Anxiety · Depressive symptoms · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Moderation · Poison control · Psychiatry · Social support · Suicide prevention · Clinical Psychology · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Social Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies