A Comparison of the Factor Structure of the Self-Harm Antipathy Scale and related Demographic Characteristics between Korea and Japan

抄録

The aim of the present study was to compare the factor structures of the Korean and Japanese version of the SHAS and analyze the commonalities and differences of the related social, cultural and education in two countries. Both scales were found to have the same four-factor structure, but the included items differed. The correlation coefficient between suicide and unemployment rates in Korea was 0.83, except for during 1998 to 2001, when both rates suddenly increased. Regarding religion in Korea, about 50% of suicide attempters were nonbelievers, about 30% were Christian, and about 20% were Buddhists. The correlation coefficient between the suicide and unemployment rates in Japan, where about 50% of suicide attempters were Shintoists and about 50% were Buddhists, was 0.89. The commonalities observed in the suicidal social and personal backgrounds may be associated with other commonalities between the Self-Harm Antipathy Scale version of Korea and Japan. The differences observed in religion may be associated with the other differences between the Self-Harm Antipathy Scale version of Korea and Japan.