Relationship Between Social Isolation, Seclusion, and Suicidal Ideation Among Young Adults: An Analysis of Data From the 2022 Survey on the Lives of Young People in South Korea.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the current status of social isolation and seclusion among young adults in South Korea and to analyze their association with suicide risk.

Methods: We utilized data from 14,966 young adults aged 19-34 years from the 2022 Survey on the Lives of Young People. Social isolation and seclusion were defined as independent variables, and suicidal ideation within the past year was set as the dependent variable. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to reduce the risk of selection bias, and logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between social isolation, seclusion, and suicidal ideation.

Results: Of the participants, 266 individuals (1.78%) were socially isolated, and 67 individuals (0.45%) were secluded. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 10.53% among socially isolated young adults and 14.93% among secluded young adults. Associations were observed between social isolation and suicidal ideation (population-weighted adjusted model: odds ratio [OR]=2.429, p=0.003; population-weighted PSM model: OR=2.030, p=0.037), as well as between seclusion and suicidal ideation (population-weighted adjusted model: OR=4.148, p=0.004; population-weighted PSM model: OR=3.873, p=0.010) across all models.

Conclusions: Being socially isolated or secluded is associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation among young adults aged 19-34 years. Preventive policies and tailored support systems are urgently needed to address these risks. This study contributes to the development of specific policies for mitigating social isolation and supporting the reintegration of young adults aged 19-34 years into society.