Factors affecting social isolation among the young adults in South Korea: A cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

The recent increase in lonely deaths among young people has emphasized the emergence of social isolation as a social problem. This study investigated the issue of social isolation by examining multidimensional factors that affect social isolation and evaluating the subjective and objective dimensions of young adults. Data for this study were collected for 8 days (February 7–14, 2022) through an online questionnaire survey by a professional survey agency, based on proportional allocation of the young adult population (age 19–39 years); data from 521 young adults were analyzed. Regression analysis was performed using SPSS to identify multidimensional factors (relative deprivation, future outlook, depression, self-esteem, social skills, experience of violence, and online activity) that affect social isolation and showed that: (1) among sociodemographic characteristics, higher age and unemployment were associated with greater social isolation; (2) sociopsychological characteristics, such as higher levels of relative deprivation and depression, more negative future outlook, and lower self-esteem, all correlated with greater social isolation; and (3) among relationship characteristics, lower social skills and a stronger history of experiencing violence were linked to greater social isolation. These results highlight the need for a customized support system at the national level that takes into account the developmental tasks of young adults as a preventive strategy to solve the problem of social isolation of young adults and to devise various strategies to provide them with mental health services.

Effects of eating outside the home on adolescent diet quality

“…average density of fiber was much lower than recommended (13 g/1000 kcal), in all groups (57.9-72.4% of recommended values) during both measurements, however, without significant differences between the NSOH and SOH groups. The consumption of food prepared outside the home (more than twice a day) is associated with a higher proportion of energy originating from fat and protein with a lower intake of carbohydrates and fiber than in Korean young people (20-29 years old) (Lee et al, 2016). This research doesn't show similar results.…”

The prevalence of chronic and episodic loneliness and social isolation from a longitudinal survey

“…Two socio-demographic characteristics that could influence the degree of social interaction one may have include household structure (i.e., living status) and employment. Living alone and unemployment have been shown to contribute to loneliness 47 – 49 and social isolation 50 in different populations. Household structure was categorised as follows: (1) couple with child; (2) couple without child; (3) lone parent with child; (4) lone person; or (5) other, which included unrelated household members, other family members, and single or double-parent households with a child over the age of 15.…”

Dying a lonely death: A conceptual and normative analysis

“…Individuals then should receive access to proper hardware and internet infrastructure. 84 If individuals lack living family members, but still wish to have family around while dying, one potential solution may be enabling and financing families for hire, as became customary in Japan. 85 For some, having a social robot or a digital human at deathbed may be enough to alleviate loneliness, and in that case these should again become accessible and financed.…”