청소년 자살예방 전략으로서의 또래 도우미 프로그램 개발을 위한 기초연구 = An Exploratory Study for the Development of Peer-Helper Gatekeeper Programs for Adolescent Suicide Prevention

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This exploratory study examines Korean adolescents' levels of knowledge on youth suicide, misconceptions on suicide, and awareness of intervention strategies for peers at risk of suicide, in order to develop peer-helper gatekeeper programs for the prevention of adolescent suicide, survey data of 430 Korean high school students were analyzed. Results indicated that Korean adolescents tend to have limited knowledge on youth suicide, especially regarding behavioral clues, school-related characteristics, and sexual preference issues as risk factors. Although their misconceptions on suicide were not as pervasive as expected, misunderstandings that might interfere with adequate suicide intervention were still present. The misconception levels were higher in males and in those with friends who had attempted suicide. It was also found that a mere 10% of the students had or expressed plans to talk to adults if a friend were to engage in suicidal behaviors. Most of them replied that they would rely on their own verbal intervention to help suicidal peers, without asking for help from adults. It would be important to train peer helpers to identify other adolescents who are at risk of suicide and to refer them to adults who can provide with or help attain professional help. The findings of this study may provide useful information for developing suicide prevention programs, and in particular, peer helper programs as adolescent gatekeeper training.

국문 초록 (Abstract)

본 연구는 청소년 자살을 예방하기 위한 전략들 중, 게이트키퍼로서의 또래 도우미 프로그램을 개발하기 위한 기초 조사연구이다. 이를 위해 또래 도우미 프로그램의 핵심요소인 자살에 대한 위험요인, 경고신호 등 관련요인들에 대한 지식, 오해, 그리고 개입방법에 대해 우리나라 고등학생들의 현 상태를 살펴보았다. 일반계 고등학생 442명을 대상으로 설문지를 실시하였으며, 그 중 430명의 자료를 분석하였다. 학생들은 쉽게 관찰 가능한, 자살의 행동적 특징에 취약하였으며, 성적선호도나 학교관련 특징에 대해서도 자살관련 요인으로서 잘 인식하지 못하였다. 자살에 대한 오해는 우려만큼 많지 않았지만, 자살의 개입과 관련하여 문제가 될 수 있는 여러 오해들이 발견되었다. 이러한 오해들은 남자인 경우, 친구가 자살시도를 한 적이 있는 경우에 유의하게 더 높았다. 한편 거의 84%의 학생들이 또래의 자살위험을 알게 되었을 경우 주변 어른에게 알리는 대신, 스스로 대화를 통해 돕는다고 보고하였다. 친구가 자살생각을 밝힌 적이 있는 청소 년이 약 33%, 친구가 자살시도를 한 적이 있는 청소년들이 약 17%임에도 불구하고, 주변 어른들에게 도 움을 청하는 청소년들은 10%정도 밖에는 되지 않음은 청소년들을 게이트키퍼로서 훈련시켜야 하는 근거 를 제시한다. 또래 도우미들은 다른 청소년들의 자살위험을 식별하여 보다 전문적 도움을 제공하거나 연 결시킬 수 있는 어른들에게 이를 알릴 수 있도록 훈련되어야 하며, 본 연구의 결과는 이를 위한 기초자료 로서 사용될 수 있을 것이다.

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