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

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.