Family Solidarity between Old Parents and Adult Children, Welfare Distribution, and Suicidal Ideation of Elderly

Jung, M. H. , & Kim, E. J. (2014). Family Solidarity between Old Parents and Adult Children, Welfare Distribution, and Suicidal Ideation of Elderly. , 12(8), 91-102, https://doi.org/10.15722/jds.12.8.201408.91

copy

Abstract

Purpose- Today, the importance of the service industry hasincreased. Social welfare businesses that follow the non-profitprinciple have neglected the distribution of the service. However,an intangible service, when produced and consumed, has asimilar service delivery system to common service distributionand social welfare. Therefore, the author has assumed the efficiency of the service delivery system of social welfare to beequivalent to the service distribution industry. Hence, variouskinds of social welfare services for the prevention of elderly suicide, from the perspective of distribution, are discussed. Studieson generational relations have thus far investigated depressionfrom parent-children conflict, and satisfaction with their lives. Studies on the relationship between family solidarity and elderlysuicide by analyzing existing social problems are rare. Thisstudy investigated the effects of family solidarity between oldparents and adult children upon elderly suicide by analyzing serious psychological and social problems. This study revealed basic measures for elderly suicide prevention through services thatcould elevate family solidarity from the perspective of social welfare service distribution. Research design, data, and methodology- The subjects were468 elderly, 65 years or older, at 18 senior welfare centers andhalls for the elderly at Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Questionnairesurveys, excluding invalid answers, were analyzed. Conveniencesampling was used from February 5, 2014 to March 5, 2014. The findings were: First, women and those having spouses withadvanced educational backgrounds and social activities had primary solidarity such as contact solidarity, affectionate solidarity, functional solidarity (giving help), and functional solidarity(receiving help). In addition, those who had good health, from asubjective point of view, had more solidarity. Second, the elderlywho were men and single, and who had poorer educationalbackgrounds thought of suicide, lacked social activities, and hadpoor health, from a subjective point of view. Third, family solidarity between old parents and adult children had significantlynegative influence on the suicidal ideation of the elderly. Results- The study revealed the following implications. First,the preparation for old age should consider not only economicwelfare but also the psychological welfare due to the relationship with children. Second, the phenomenon of elderly suicidebecause of a lack of family solidarity could increase nationalloss and have great influence upon welfare in old age. Therefore, planning of welfare services for the elderly shouldconsider the value of relationships with children to improve thepsychological welfare of the elderly. Third, the social expensesof government-oriented support for parents should be discussedfrom the people’s point of view. Conclusions- The subjects of the study comprised the elderlyat Seoul and Gyenggi-do; therefore, it would be difficult to extrapolate the findings to all the elderly in the nation. The subjectvisited senior welfare centers as well as halls for the elderly;therefore, it would be difficult to assume that the trends wererepresentative of the elderly in the nation.

keywords: Family Solidarity, Contact Solidarity, Affectionate Solidarity, Functional Solidarity (Get Help). Welfare Distribution.

Reference

Bae, Ji-yeon, & Kim, Won-Hyung (2005). The Moderating Effects of Social Support in the Relationship between Suicidal Thought and Depression among the Elderly. The Korean Psychological Association, 2005, 446-447.

Bengtson, V. L., & Peterson, J. A. (1972), An Exploration of the Activity Theory of Aging: Activity Type and life Satisfaction among in Movers to a Retirement Community, Journal of Gerontology, 27(4), 511-523.

Bengtson, V. L., & Schrader, S. S. (1982). Parent-child relations:The measurement of intergenerational interaction and affect in old age, Minnesota, USA: University of Minnesota Press.

Cho, Byung Eun (1988). Intergenerational Family Solidarity and Life Satisfaction among Korean Aged Parents. Delaware, USA: Thesis for Post Doctorate in Delaware University.

Choi, Jeong-Hye, & Kim, Tae-Hyun (1991). Research On Aged Parent's Perception Of Solidarity And Discord With Their Adult Children. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 11(2), 212-234.

Do, Young Kyung, & Malhotra, C. (2012). The Effect of Coresidence With an Adult Child on Depressive Symptoms Among Older Widowed Women in South Korea: An Instrumental Variables Estimation. Journal of Gerontology, 67B(3), 384-391.

Hashimoto, K., Kurita, H., Haratani, T., Fujii, K., & Ishibashi, T. (1999). Direct and buffering effects of social support on depressive symptoms of the elderly with home help. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 53(1), 95-100.

Jang, Mi-Heui, & Kim, Yoon-Hee (2005). The Relationship of Stress, Depression and Suicidal Ideation in the Elderly. Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 14(1), 33-42.

Jung, Ho young, & Roh, Seung Hyun (2007). A study on factors influencing elderly suicidal ideation: focused on the mediating effects of depression and stress on suicidal ideation. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 27(4), 789-805.

10.

Jung, Kyeong-Hee (2011). Old-age Families in Korea: Prospect and Policy Implications. Health and welfare policy forum, 175(5), 35-44.

11.

Kim, Chun Gill, & Park, Hyea Ja (2007). Factors Influencing Life Satisfaction Among the Senior Welfare Center Elderly. The Korean Academic Society of Adult Nursing, 19(4), 535-546.

12.

Kim, Hyoung-soo (2002). A Study on Epistemology of Korean Elder`s Suicidal Thought. Journal of the Korea Gerontological Society, 22(1), 159-172.

13.

Kim, Hyun soon, & Kim, Byeong seok (2007). A Path Analysis on Suicidal Ideation in the Elderly. The Korean Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 19(3), 801-818.

14.

Kim, Hyun soon, & Kim, Byeong seok (2008). Verification of the Structural Relationship Model of Suicidal Ideation to Its Related Variables. The Korean Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 20(2), 201-219.

15.

Kim, Tae Hyun, & Kim, Su Jung (1996). A Study on the Solidarity Between the Elderly and their Three Generations, and Depression of the Elderly. Journal of the Korea Gerontological Society, 16(1), 110-129.

16.

Lee, Young Kyung, & Jung, Myung Hee (2013). The Effect of Family Resilience on Depression and Suicide Ideation of the elderly. Journal of Welfare for Aged, 61, 111-134.

17.

Mutran, E., & Reitzes, D. C. (1984). Intergenerational support activities and well-being among the elderly : a convergence of exchange and symbolic interaction perspectives. American Sociological Review, 49(1), 117-130.

18.

Seo, In-Kyun, & Jung, You-Seon (2010). Effects of Protection and Risk Factors on Suicidal Ideation of the Elderly. Health and welfare, 12(12), 97-114.

19.

Sohn, Yong-Jin (2013). The Effect of Suicidal Ideation, Self-esteem, and Family Life Satisfaction on Depression Among the Young-old, Middle-old and Old-old Elderly Koreans. Health and Social Welfare Review, 33(4), 185-217.

20.

Statistics Korea (2006). Population Projections for Korea. Seoul, Korea: Statistics Korea Publishing.

21.

Thompson, M. G., & Heller, K. (1990). Facets of support related to well-being: Quantitative social isolation and perceived family support in a sample of elderly women. Psychology and Aging, 5(4), 535-544

22.

Yoon, Hyun-Sook, & Yoo, Hi-Jung (2006). Influences of Family Relations on the Successful Aging. Korean journal of family social work, 18, 5-31.

바로가기메뉴

Article Contents

Vol.12 No.8

Family Solidarity between Old Parents and Adult Children, Welfare Distribution, and Suicidal Ideation of Elderly

Abstract

Reference

The Journal of Distribution Science