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Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology
Mar 23, 2025;

Association between changes in family relationship status and suicidal ideation among individuals with physical disabilities.

Cho Rong Kim, Soo Young Kim, Yun Seo Jang, Eun-Cheol Park
Author Information
  1. Cho Rong Kim: Department of Health Policy Management, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  2. Soo Young Kim: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  3. Yun Seo Jang: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  4. Eun-Cheol Park: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. ECPARK@yuhs.ac.
PMID: 40123033 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-025-02881-9

Abstract

PURPOSE: Individuals with physical disabilities are at a higher risk of suicide due to daily activity limitations and dependency on others. Family relationships are important to their mental health and well-being. This study investigated the impact of changes in the family relationship status of physically disabled individuals on suicidal ideation.
METHODS: We used data from the Disability and Life Dynamics Panel for 2018-2022. A total of 3,704 individuals were used in the analysis. Family relationships were classified into four groups: 1) good���������good, 2) poor���������good, 3) good���������poor, and 4) poor���������poor. We assessed suicidal ideation and attempts based on self-reported questionnaires. A generalized estimating equation model was used to analyze the impact of changes in family relationships on suicidal ideation in people with physical disabilities.
RESULTS: Individuals with physical disabilities whose family relationships declined were 1.63 times more likely to have suicidal ideation (95% CI 1.22-2.19) compared to those with consistently good family relationship. Among the subfactors of family relationships, family problem-solving ability showed the strongest association with suicidal ideation when it deteriorated (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.03-1.74). Individuals with consistently poor family relationships were 1.78 times more likely to have suicidal ideation alone (95% CI 1.33-2.38) and 2.29 times more likely to have both suicidal ideation and attempts (95% CI 0.89-5.93).
CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the importance of addressing family relationships in suicide prevention strategies and mental health interventions for individuals with physical disabilities.

Keywords

Disabled persons Family relations Physically disabled Suicide

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Journal Article

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0familysuicidalideationrelationships1physicaldisabilitiesindividuals95%CIIndividualsFamilychangesrelationshipusedtimeslikelysuicidementalhealthimpactstatus32attemptsconsistentlyPURPOSE:higherriskduedailyactivitylimitationsdependencyothersimportantwell-beingstudyinvestigatedphysicallydisabledMETHODS:dataDisabilityLifeDynamicsPanel2018-2022total704analysisclassifiedfourgroups:good���������goodpoor���������goodgood���������poor4poor���������poorassessedbasedself-reportedquestionnairesgeneralizedestimatingequationmodelanalyzepeopleRESULTS:whosedeclined6322-219comparedgoodAmongsubfactorsproblem-solvingabilityshowedstrongestassociationdeterioratedOR3403-174poor78alone33-23829089-593CONCLUSION:findingssuggestimportanceaddressingpreventionstrategiesinterventionsAssociationamongDisabledpersonsrelationsPhysically disabledSuicide

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