Abstract
Objectives: This study sought to examine the relationship between Internet use and suicidal ideation in Korean older adults and the mediating roles of social relationships and depressive symptoms. Method: A nationally representative sample of older adults aged 50 or older (N = 6,306), from four waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study, was used in the analyses. All analyses were conducted using generalized estimation equations, and the mediation effects of social relationship satisfaction and depression in the relationship between Internet use and suicidal ideation were calculated using the product-of-coefficients approach. Results: Internet use was linked with lower levels of suicidal ideation directly and indirectly via the protective effects of Internet use on lowering depression, which was partially mediated by the positive influence Internet use has on older adults’ social relationship satisfaction. Discussion: The results support previous theories about the relationship between social relationships, depression, and suicidal behavior and prior results about how the Internet might confer mental and social health benefits to older adults. This suggests that the Internet is an important social and health activity that contributes to lowering suicidal ideation in older adults.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 846-855 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences |
| Volume | 72 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 Sep 1 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Health(social science)
- Social Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science
- Gerontology
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Life-span and Life-course Studies
Cite this
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What accounts for the relationship between internet use and suicidal ideation of Korean older adults? A mediation analysis. / Jun, Heyjung; Kim, Myoung Yong.
In: Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol. 72, No. 5, 01.09.2017, p. 846-855.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - What accounts for the relationship between internet use and suicidal ideation of Korean older adults? A mediation analysis
AU - Jun, Heyjung
AU - Kim, Myoung Yong
PY - 2017/9/1
Y1 - 2017/9/1
N2 - Objectives: This study sought to examine the relationship between Internet use and suicidal ideation in Korean older adults and the mediating roles of social relationships and depressive symptoms. Method: A nationally representative sample of older adults aged 50 or older (N = 6,306), from four waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study, was used in the analyses. All analyses were conducted using generalized estimation equations, and the mediation effects of social relationship satisfaction and depression in the relationship between Internet use and suicidal ideation were calculated using the product-of-coefficients approach. Results: Internet use was linked with lower levels of suicidal ideation directly and indirectly via the protective effects of Internet use on lowering depression, which was partially mediated by the positive influence Internet use has on older adults’ social relationship satisfaction. Discussion: The results support previous theories about the relationship between social relationships, depression, and suicidal behavior and prior results about how the Internet might confer mental and social health benefits to older adults. This suggests that the Internet is an important social and health activity that contributes to lowering suicidal ideation in older adults.
AB - Objectives: This study sought to examine the relationship between Internet use and suicidal ideation in Korean older adults and the mediating roles of social relationships and depressive symptoms. Method: A nationally representative sample of older adults aged 50 or older (N = 6,306), from four waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study, was used in the analyses. All analyses were conducted using generalized estimation equations, and the mediation effects of social relationship satisfaction and depression in the relationship between Internet use and suicidal ideation were calculated using the product-of-coefficients approach. Results: Internet use was linked with lower levels of suicidal ideation directly and indirectly via the protective effects of Internet use on lowering depression, which was partially mediated by the positive influence Internet use has on older adults’ social relationship satisfaction. Discussion: The results support previous theories about the relationship between social relationships, depression, and suicidal behavior and prior results about how the Internet might confer mental and social health benefits to older adults. This suggests that the Internet is an important social and health activity that contributes to lowering suicidal ideation in older adults.
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U2 - 10.1093/geronb/gbw163
DO - 10.1093/geronb/gbw163
M3 - Article
VL - 72
SP - 846
EP - 855
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
SN - 1079-5014
IS - 5
ER -