Analysis of Influencing Factors on Social Isolation of Older People using Multi-Level Models

The purposes of this study were to examine individual and regional factors affecting the social isolation of older people and to suggest approaches to alleviate social isolation of older people based on the results. For the study, the data of the｢Survey on Age Integration and Generational Integration｣and administrative statistics were used. Data from 600 people aged 65 years and older were analyzed through a two-level hierarchical linear model(HLM). This study found that first, the the ratio of regional-level variance to the total variance in social isolation of tolder people was 17.5%, confirming that the multi-level model application was appropriate. Second, it was found that the lower the self-esteem and family solidarity at the individual level, the higher the level of social isolation of older people. Third, at the regional level, the social isolation of older people was higher as they lived in areas with a lower elderly population ratio. In other words, even considering the influence of individual-level variables, it was confirmed that there was a difference in the level of social isolation of older people according to the ratio of the elderly population in the area where they lived. With this results, discussions were presented to prevent and alleviate social isolation of older people.