Impacts of Remaining Single above the Mean Marriage Age on Mental Disorders and Suicidality:a Nationwide Study in Korea
10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e319
- Author:
Jimin LEE
1
;
Hyerim KIM
;
Jungmin WOO
;
Sung Man CHANG
;
Jin Pyo HONG
;
Dong-Woo LEE
;
Bong-Jin HAHM
;
Seong-Jin CHO
;
Jong-Ik PARK
;
Hong Jin JEON
;
Su Jeong SEONG
;
Jee Eun PARK
;
Byung-Soo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2020;35(37):e319-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:This study investigated the impact of getting older than the mean marriage age on mental disorders and suicidality among never-married people.
Methods:We performed an epidemiological survey, a nationwide study of mental disorders, in 2016. In this study, a multi-stage cluster sampling was adopted. The Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was conducted with 5,102 respondents aged 18 years or above. The associations between never-married status, mental disorders, and suicidality were explored according to whether the mean age of first marriage (men = 32.8 years; women = 30.1 years) had passed.
Results:Never-married status over the mean marriage age was associated with agoraphobia, obsessive–compulsive disorder, mood disorders, and major depressive disorder after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Respondents with never-married status above the mean marriage age were associated with suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.21;95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36–7.60) after controlling for sociodemographic factors and lifetime prevalence of mental disorders, while respondents with never-married status under the mean marriage age were not. Moreover, in respondents with never-married status, getting older than the mean marriage age was associated with suicidal ideations (aOR, 1.49;95% CI, 1.04–2.15) and suicide attempts (aOR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.46–7.84) after controlling for sociodemographic factors and lifetime prevalence of mental disorders.
Conclusion:Never-married status above the mean first marriage age was associated with mental disorders and suicidality. These findings suggest the need for a national strategy to develop an environment where people with never-married status do not suffer even if their marriage is delayed.
