Abstract

This study intended to investigate the associated variables of suicidal ideation among adolescents in Korea. A questionnaire on adolescent suicidal ideation was administered to 634 high school students (305 males, 329 females) from Seoul area. Their experience of suicidal ideation were measured and then only for the suicidal ideation experience group, Scale for Suicidal Ideation(Beck, Kovacs & Weissman, 1979) was tested. Also the survey contained items pertaining to mental health, identity, academic grade, stress on school achievement and perceived child-rearing patterns. ANOVA has shown that the suicidal ideation experience group was lower in mental health level and has higher stress on school achievement than the non-experience group. Also suicidal ideation experience group showed relatively low ego identity level and perceived that they receive a little love and care from their parents. According to the multiple regression analysis, obsession, social adaptation ability, perceived parent's love, and GSI (General Severity Index) were reliable prominent variables that predicted the severity of suicidal ideation. These results suggested that some common factors affected experience of suicidal ideation of Korean high school students, and experience of suicidal ideation might be associated with general maladjustment in their everyday life.