TY - JOUR
T1 - The Influence of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Suicidal Behaviors in South Korea
T2 - The Mediating Effects of Depressive Symptoms and Latent Class Analysis
AU - Lee, Haenim
AU - Park, Aely
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - This study examines the relationship between patterns of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicidal behaviors. It investigates the role of depressive symptoms as an underlying mechanism between patterns of ACEs and suicidal behaviors in South Korea. Data came from the 2012 Korean General Social Survey (KGSS), a nationally representative sample in South Korea (N = 1,048). The dependent variables included two suicidal behaviors: suicidal thoughts and a suicide plan or attempt. The independent variable was the patterns of ACEs identified using ten binary indicators of childhood adversity. The mediating variable of depressive symptoms was measured using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Covariates were also included to control for socio-demographic characteristics: age, gender, education, and household income. This study conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) to classify different patterns of ACEs and then employed path analysis to examine mediating effects of depressive symptoms in the relationship between ACEs and suicidal behavior. Among the results, three latent classes of ACEs were identified—child maltreatment, child maltreatment and family dysfunction, and low ACEs. The child maltreatment and child maltreatment and family dysfunction classes were more likely to have suicidal thoughts and to plan or attempt suicide compared to the low ACEs class. Path analysis also showed significant indirect pathways from ACEs exposure to suicidal behaviors through depressive symptoms. This evidence corroborates previous research that shows family dysfunction and child maltreatment as detrimental factors leading to depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors. Practitioners and policy-makers should therefore consider childhood life experiences when assessing suicidal behaviors in health prevention and intervention strategies.
AB - This study examines the relationship between patterns of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicidal behaviors. It investigates the role of depressive symptoms as an underlying mechanism between patterns of ACEs and suicidal behaviors in South Korea. Data came from the 2012 Korean General Social Survey (KGSS), a nationally representative sample in South Korea (N = 1,048). The dependent variables included two suicidal behaviors: suicidal thoughts and a suicide plan or attempt. The independent variable was the patterns of ACEs identified using ten binary indicators of childhood adversity. The mediating variable of depressive symptoms was measured using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Covariates were also included to control for socio-demographic characteristics: age, gender, education, and household income. This study conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) to classify different patterns of ACEs and then employed path analysis to examine mediating effects of depressive symptoms in the relationship between ACEs and suicidal behavior. Among the results, three latent classes of ACEs were identified—child maltreatment, child maltreatment and family dysfunction, and low ACEs. The child maltreatment and child maltreatment and family dysfunction classes were more likely to have suicidal thoughts and to plan or attempt suicide compared to the low ACEs class. Path analysis also showed significant indirect pathways from ACEs exposure to suicidal behaviors through depressive symptoms. This evidence corroborates previous research that shows family dysfunction and child maltreatment as detrimental factors leading to depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors. Practitioners and policy-makers should therefore consider childhood life experiences when assessing suicidal behaviors in health prevention and intervention strategies.
KW - adverse childhood experiences
KW - depressive symptoms
KW - latent class analysis
KW - suicidal behaviors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85153273000&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/08862605231162658
DO - 10.1177/08862605231162658
M3 - Article
C2 - 37057336
AN - SCOPUS:85153273000
SN - 0886-2605
VL - 38
SP - 9039
EP - 9058
JO - Journal of Interpersonal Violence
JF - Journal of Interpersonal Violence
IS - 15-16
ER -