Importance of worthwhile life and social health as predictors of suicide ideation among cancer patients

Abstract

Objective

We identify the most associative factors among existential well-being, health-related quality of life, and health behaviors’ sub-factors for cancer patients’ suicidal ideation (SI) to develop practical intervention tools for general cancer patients in South Korea.

Participants

We surveyed 766 cancer patients from two hospitals in South Korea. The eligibility criteria were as follows: 18 years of age or older, diagnosed with cancer, aware of the stage, and capable of understanding the purpose of the study.

Methods

We performed a multidimensional multivariate analysis to find the factors that are most associated with SI for cancer patients.

Results

The results showed that life worthwhile (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 3.946; 95% CI, 1.64–9.48), social functioning (aOR, 2.817; 95% CI, 1.19–6.65), and living with loved ones (aOR, 0.353; 95% CI, 0.15–0.84) were the most predictive factors for SI.

Conclusion

To prevent SI in cancer patients, it might be necessary to help them feel that their lives are worthwhile while helping them maintain a high degree of social health.

Implications for Psychosocial Providers or Policy

It is important to help cancer patients value their life and lead the high-quality social life to reduce their SI.

Keywords:

• Cancer patients
• HRQoL
• life worthwhile
• social functioning
• social support
• suicidal ideation

Author’s contributions

Young Ho Yun designed the study, provided financial support, collected and manage the data, interpreted the data analysis, drafted the manuscript, and finally approved the paper. Ju Youn Jung participated in the study design, performed the data analysis statistically, and wrote the manuscript. Young Ho Yun and Ju Youn Jung approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

The corresponding author Y.H. Yun and the first author J.Y. Jung thank BK21 plus program through the National Research Foundation (NRF) for financial support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflicts of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grants from the National R&D Program for Cancer Control, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (1320330).