Social Isolation and Suicidal Ideation Among Older Adults in Korea: The Role of Community Welfare Spending and Community Trust

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which community-level welfare spending and community trust moderated the association between social isolation and suicidal ideation among older adults in South Korea. Using data from the 2017 Korean Community Health Survey (N = 64,853, aged ≥65), we analyzed three social isolation indicators (living alone, lack of contact, and limited social participation) with multilevel logistic regression with cross-level interactions. All three types of isolation were associated with increased suicidal ideation, with lack of participation showing the strongest effect. While community trust had a direct protective effect, only welfare spending buffered the adverse impact of limited social participation on suicidal ideation. These findings highlight that system-level protections like welfare spending are crucial for mitigating mental health risks in socially isolated older adults. Strengthening welfare-based community infrastructures may be essential for suicide prevention among older adults.