Perceived isolation, social disconnectedness, and the mental health of young adults in South Korea

Abstract

Abstract Background While perceived isolation and social disconnectedness in older adults and adolescents are considered to be risk factors for mental health, limited research on the association between these variables in young adults. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of perceived isolation and social disconnectedness among young adults in Korea and the impact of these factors on mental health. Methods We utilized data from the 2021 Young Adult Socio-economic Survey, which approved by Statistics Korea. A sample of 2,041 participants was selected. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between perceived isolation and social disconnectedness and mental health. Results Perceived isolation and social disconnectedness were associated with mental health. Perceived isolation (OR 1.86, 95% CI = 1.61–2.15) and going out (OR 2.59, 95% CI = 1.47–4.58) significantly influenced depression. Additionally, subjective well-being was significantly influenced by perceived isolation (OR 1.17, 95% CI = 1.03–1.33), going out (OR 1.96 95% CI = 1.21–3.16), and number of friends (OR 0.79, 95% CI = 0.69–0.90). Conclusions Overall, the findings suggest that social connection is crucial to young adults’ mental health.