Psychological resilience and suicidality in the general population: A cross-sectional study based on data from the National Mental Health Survey of Korea 2021

Abstract

BackgroundThe relationship between suicidality and resilience is underexplored among the general population. This study aimed to explore the relationship between lifetime, one-year, and one-month prevalence of suicidality (ideation, plan, attempt) and resilience in the general population. MethodsData on suicidality, resilience, prevalence of major mental disorders, and other key psychological factors were collected from the National Mental Health Survey of Korea 2021. Interviewees comprised 5511 South Koreans aged 18–79 years. The contribution of resilience to suicidality was evaluated using Rao–Scot logistic regression, adjusting for possible confounders such as mental disorder prevalence and demographic and psychological characteristics. ResultsSignificantly lower resilience levels were noted among participants who reported lifetime, one-year, and one-month suicidal ideation, plan, or attempts. High resilience levels predicted no suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts in the lifetime, and no suicidal ideation and plans in the one-year and one-month time frames. LimitationsFirst, this study's cross-sectional design has limitations for ascertaining a causal relationship between resilience and suicidality. Second, because the number of participants who had attempted suicide in the past year and reported suicidal thoughts/attempts in the past month was small, there were limitations in the analysis of suicidality in these time frames. Third, it was difficult to rule out the mediating effects of personality and temperament on the relationship between resilience and suicidality. ConclusionsHigh resilience levels predicted lower lifetime and current suicidal ideation and suicidal planning in the general population. This study shows that psychological resilience is an important factor in evaluating an individual's current suicidality.