The Path Analysis for Mutual Relationship of Stress and Depression that Affect the Suicidality: Comparison of Sex and Age Group

Abstract

This study was aimed at examining the mutual relationship of stress and depression and its path with suicidality using the ‘Korea General Social Survey’ for people aged 18 and over (KGSS, 2009). For this, this study set up the mutual relationship of depression and stress based on the Stress Exposure Model and the Stress Generation Model and Non-recursive path model, according to which stress and depression directly effect on suicidality at the same time. In addition, the author conducted multi-group analysis to make comparison in terms of age and sex on this model. The main findings of this study were as follows. First, for the whole group, the Stress Exposure Model was more appropriate because the direct path of stress and depression to suicidality, and stress path on depression were significant. Second, the male-female comparison revealed that male’s path from depression to stress, and from stress and depression to suicidality were significant and, for this reason, Stress Generation Model was deemed more appropriate for males. For females, however, only the paths from depression to stress and to suicidality were significant. Third, the age group comparison showed that among adults and the elderly, as was the case with males, the paths from depression to stress and from stress and depression to suicidality were significant. This suggests a need for paying more attention to each of subgroups when conducting research on the impact of depression and stress on suicidality.