Date Presented 04/03/2025
This study examines the relationship between social isolation and suicidal ideation in Korean young adults using survey data. Our findings identified isolation as a risk factor, underlining the importance of OT support.
Primary Author and Speaker: Jiwon Shin
Additional Authors and Speakers: Suyeong Bae, Hyun Yang, Muwon Lee, Hae Yean Park
PURPOSE: Despited increasing awareness of young adults’ issues such as social isolation or seclusion, the relationship between these factors and suicide ideation is unclear. Therefore, our study explroes the relationship between social isolation, seclusion, and suicidal ideation among Korean young adults to understand these relationships and find the way in which how the occupational therapists can support them.
DESIGN: The study was a descriptive and retrospective study.
METHOD: Our study analyzed data from 14,966 young adults using the 2022 Youth Life Survey. The independent variables were social isolation and seclusion, measured through self-reported questionnaires assessing whether individuals felt they could receive support from others and the frequency with which they went out from home. The dependent variable was suicidal ideation, measured by whether respondents had considered suicide within the past year, with responses recorded as ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ We used logistic regression analysis to examine the relationship between social isolation, seclusion, and suicidal ideation. Additionally, we used propensity score analysis to reduce selection bias.
RESULTS: Among the participants, 974 individuals (6.51%) identified as socially isolated, and 207 individuals (1.38%) as secluded. There were relationships between social isolation and suicidal ideation (odds ratio [OR] = 1.479, p-value = 0.0284), as well as between social seclusion and suicidal ideation in the adjusted model (OR = 2.943, p-value = 0.0003). After conducting the propensity score matching, we found these relationships were significant (social isolation: OR = 1.423, p-value = 0.0178; seclusion: OR = 1.793, p-value = 0.0211)
CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that need for addressing social isolation and seclusion among young adults. In addition, our results highlight the requirement for practical approaches to occupational therapy to improve life outcomes for isolated and secluded young adults.
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