Mi Young Im; Yun Jeong Kim

doi:10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.61

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Original Article
A Phenomenological Study of Suicide Attempts in Elders: Mi Young Im, Yun Jeong Kim; Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2011;41(1):61-71.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.61
Published online: February 28, 2011

¹Head Nurse, Seosan Medical Center Seosan, Seosan, Korea.

²Associate Professor, Department of Elderly Welfare, Hanseo University, Seosan, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Kim, Yun Jeong. Department of Elderly Welfare, Hanseo University, 360 Daegok-ri, Haemi-myeon, Seosan 356-706, Korea. Tel: +82-41-660-1251, Fax: +82-41-660-1329, twoyun21@hanmail.net

• Received: June 14, 2010 • Accepted: February 25, 2011

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Abstract
NOTES
REFERENCES

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine the meaning and essence of suicide for elderly people who had previously attempted suicide as an older person.
Methods
Giorgi's descriptive phenomenology was used for analysis. The researchers carried out in-depth interviews, recordings and memos individually with four elders. The elders were individuals who had attempted suicide sometime in the past 5 yr. They were interviewed from 5 to 10 times using open-ended questions and a semi-structural format. Demographic data were also collected.
Results
The meaning of suicide before a suicide attempt in older people had four core components: conflict with family, powerlessness and despair in their life with a drop in self-esteem, using internal and external resources to resolve their troubles and awareness of imminent crisis.
Conclusion
These results of this study will increase understanding of suicide in older people by defining their subjective experience of suicide attempts and applying grounded data in the development of programs that provide concrete intervention strategies to prevent suicide in elderly people.
Keywords: Elderly; Suicide attempt; Qualitative research; Phenomenology

This article is based on a part of the first author's doctoral thesis from Dept. of Elderly Welfare, Hanseo University.

REFERENCES

1. Bae JE, Choi HK. Cross-cultural study of successful aging in Korean and Western society. Journal of Korean Home Management Association. 2007;25:137–153.
2. Bae JH, Um KW. Factors affecting suicide attempt of the elderly. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society. 2009;29:1427–1444.
3. Bae JY. Structural equational modeling for elderly suicidal thoughts. 2004;Daejeon, Daejeon University. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
4. Chun KK, Whang WW, Kim JW, Park HK. Emotional stress and hwabyung. Korean Journal of Health Psychology. 1997;2:168–185.
5. Conwell Y, Brent D. Suicide and aging I: Patterns of psychiatric diagnosis. International Psychogeriatrics. 1995;7:149–164.Article PubMed
6. Cutler DM, Glaeser EL, Norberg K. Explaining rise in youth suicide (W7713). 2000;United States, National Bureau of Economic Research. Working Paper.
7. Durkheim E. Suicide: A study in sociology. 1951;New York, Free Press.
8. Giorgi A. The theory, practice, and evaluation of the phenomenological method as a qualitative research. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology. 1997;28:235–260.
9. Giorgi A. Qualitative research methodology. Workshop on the Giorgi's phenomenological method. Conducted at Qualitative Research Center. 2003;Seoul.
10. Goffman E. The interaction order. American Sociological Review. 1983;48:1–17.Article
11. Jung IK, Kwak DI, Shin DK, Lee MS, Lee HS, Kim JK. A reliability and validity study of geriatric depression scale. Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. 1997;36:103–112.
12. Jo KH, Kim YK. A phenomenological study on the restoration experience for suicide ideation of Korean elders. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2008;38:258–269.Article PubMed
13. Jo KH, Lee HJ. Attitudes of elderly Koreans toward suicide - A Q-methodological approach. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2006;36:905–916.Article PubMed PDF
14. Kang Y, Na DL, Hahn SH. A validity study on the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination in dementia patients. Journal of the Korean Neurological Association. 1997;15:300–308.
15. Kim HS. The elderly and deviant behavior (suicide). Journal of Welfare for the Aged. 2000;10:25–45.
16. Kim HY. A study of factors influencing suicidal ideation of elders. 2006;Seoul, Ewha Womans University. Unpublished master's thesis.
17. Suicide mortality by each age. Korea National Statistical Office. 2008;Retrieved May 20, 2009. from http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/2/1/index.board?bmode?read&aSeq=66244.
18. Kwon JD. Study on the effect of the education by the elderly on the intergenerational integration. Journal of the Korea Gerontological Society. 2005;25:15–33.
19. Lee SY. Suicide trends and causes among the Korean elderly as reported in newspapers. Journal of Social Sciences. 2004;23:85–104.
20. Lincoln YS, Guba E. Naturalistic inquiry. 1985;Beverly Hills, CA, Sage Publications.
21. Park BG. Study on a moderating effect of psycho-social characteristics in the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation amongcommunity elderly. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society. 2008;28:969–989.
22. Park JE, Chung J. The influencing factors on life-satisfaction and suicidal ideation among elderly. Chosun University of Regional Development Research. 2005;10:39–59.
23. Park JY. Experience of committing suicide of elderly suicide survivors - The flying from a quince knob-. 2007;Seoul, Ewha Womans University. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
24. Parse RR. Man-living-health: A theory of nursing. 1981;New York, Wiley.
25. Ron P. Depression hopelessness, and suicidal ideation among the elderly - A comparison between men and women living in nursing homes and in the community. Journal of Gerontological Social Work. 2004;43:97–116.Article
26. Shu HJ. Social work intervention strategies for preventing suicide in the elderly. 2005;Busan, Pusan National University. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.

Figure & Data

REFERENCES

1. Bae JE, Choi HK. Cross-cultural study of successful aging in Korean and Western society. Journal of Korean Home Management Association. 2007;25:137–153.
2. Bae JH, Um KW. Factors affecting suicide attempt of the elderly. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society. 2009;29:1427–1444.
3. Bae JY. Structural equational modeling for elderly suicidal thoughts. 2004;Daejeon, Daejeon University. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
4. Chun KK, Whang WW, Kim JW, Park HK. Emotional stress and hwabyung. Korean Journal of Health Psychology. 1997;2:168–185.
5. Conwell Y, Brent D. Suicide and aging I: Patterns of psychiatric diagnosis. International Psychogeriatrics. 1995;7:149–164.Article PubMed
6. Cutler DM, Glaeser EL, Norberg K. Explaining rise in youth suicide (W7713). 2000;United States, National Bureau of Economic Research. Working Paper.
7. Durkheim E. Suicide: A study in sociology. 1951;New York, Free Press.
8. Giorgi A. The theory, practice, and evaluation of the phenomenological method as a qualitative research. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology. 1997;28:235–260.
9. Giorgi A. Qualitative research methodology. Workshop on the Giorgi's phenomenological method. Conducted at Qualitative Research Center. 2003;Seoul.
10. Goffman E. The interaction order. American Sociological Review. 1983;48:1–17.Article
11. Jung IK, Kwak DI, Shin DK, Lee MS, Lee HS, Kim JK. A reliability and validity study of geriatric depression scale. Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. 1997;36:103–112.
12. Jo KH, Kim YK. A phenomenological study on the restoration experience for suicide ideation of Korean elders. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2008;38:258–269.Article PubMed
13. Jo KH, Lee HJ. Attitudes of elderly Koreans toward suicide - A Q-methodological approach. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2006;36:905–916.Article PubMed PDF
14. Kang Y, Na DL, Hahn SH. A validity study on the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination in dementia patients. Journal of the Korean Neurological Association. 1997;15:300–308.
15. Kim HS. The elderly and deviant behavior (suicide). Journal of Welfare for the Aged. 2000;10:25–45.
16. Kim HY. A study of factors influencing suicidal ideation of elders. 2006;Seoul, Ewha Womans University. Unpublished master's thesis.
17. Suicide mortality by each age. Korea National Statistical Office. 2008;Retrieved May 20, 2009. from http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/2/1/index.board?bmode?read&aSeq=66244.
18. Kwon JD. Study on the effect of the education by the elderly on the intergenerational integration. Journal of the Korea Gerontological Society. 2005;25:15–33.
19. Lee SY. Suicide trends and causes among the Korean elderly as reported in newspapers. Journal of Social Sciences. 2004;23:85–104.
20. Lincoln YS, Guba E. Naturalistic inquiry. 1985;Beverly Hills, CA, Sage Publications.
21. Park BG. Study on a moderating effect of psycho-social characteristics in the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation amongcommunity elderly. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society. 2008;28:969–989.
22. Park JE, Chung J. The influencing factors on life-satisfaction and suicidal ideation among elderly. Chosun University of Regional Development Research. 2005;10:39–59.
23. Park JY. Experience of committing suicide of elderly suicide survivors - The flying from a quince knob-. 2007;Seoul, Ewha Womans University. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
24. Parse RR. Man-living-health: A theory of nursing. 1981;New York, Wiley.
25. Ron P. Depression hopelessness, and suicidal ideation among the elderly - A comparison between men and women living in nursing homes and in the community. Journal of Gerontological Social Work. 2004;43:97–116.Article
26. Shu HJ. Social work intervention strategies for preventing suicide in the elderly. 2005;Busan, Pusan National University. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.

Citations

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A Phenomenological Study of Suicide Attempts in Elders

J Korean Acad Nurs. 2011;41(1):61-71. Published online February 28, 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.61

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A Phenomenological Study of Suicide Attempts in Elders