A Study on Relationship between Interpersonal Relationships and Suicide Ideation among Alcoholics: Focusing on the Mediating Effects of Depression

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of depression in the relationship between interpersonal relationships and suicide ideation among alcoholics. The study subjects included a total of 151 patients hospitalized at six psychiatric hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province for alcoholism or alcohol abuse. For data analysis, mediating effects were tested with multiple regression analysis and the Baron&Kenny (1986) method. The study findings were as follows: first, the suicide attempt rate of the subjects was approximately 13 times higher than that of non-alcoholic adults, while the subjects’ suicide ideation rate was about three times higher. Secondly, depression, interpersonal relationships, number of suicide attempts, alcohol problem, income, and age had direct influence on suicide ideation. Finally, the test results of mediating effects showed that depression had full mediating effect between interpersonal relationships and suicide ideation. Based on these findings, the study discusses practice implications for the field of social welfare such as the need for educating and training practitioners capable of considering suicide risk of alcoholics, as well as the need for tailored intervention programs and their management systems for the high suicide risk group.