Nonstandard employment and mental health risks in South Korea: Longitudinal evidence from the Korea Welfare Panel Study

This study explored the impact of exposure to nonstandard work on workers' depression and suicidal ideation. Using data from the 12th to 18th waves of the Korea Welfare Panel Study, longitudinal analyses were conducted employing cox regression and survival analysis techniques to examine the relationships between nonstandard employment, depression, and suicidal ideation. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that individuals with the longest duration of nonstandard work exhibited a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation. Cox regression analysis confirmed a significant association between nonstandard work and depression levels. However, in the recurrent events Cox model, nonstandard work was not a statistically significant predictor of suicidal ideation; only depression showed a significant effect. Nevertheless, the findings overall indicate heavy connections between these factors, for which relevant policy implications can be proposed.