Behind closed doors: latent profiles of social exclusion and depressive symptoms and their association with suicidal ideation among young Goshiwon residents in South Korea

Background This study examines the relationship between social exclusion, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation among young residents of Goshiwons in South Korea. It aims to identify distinct patterns of social exclusion and depressive symptoms and their association with suicidal ideation.Method A survey was conducted from June to August 2022 among 300 young adults (ages 19-34) residing in Goshiwons in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon. Latent profile analysis identified distinct social exclusion and depression profiles, and a chi-square test assessed differences in suicidal ideation across groups.Results Four profiles emerged: (1) Low depression (15.33%), (2) High consumption exclusion-high depression (25.33%), (3) Low depression-high exclusion (28.00%), and (4) Severe multiple exclusion (31.33%). The Severe multiple exclusion group had the highest suicidal ideation rate (61.7%), followed by the High consumption exclusion-high depression group (23.68%). Despite low depressive symptoms, the Low depression-high exclusion group exhibited significant social exclusion and a 15.48% suicidal ideation rate.Conclusions Results highlight that addressing social exclusion is critical even when depressive symptoms are not prominent. Social exclusion alone can increase suicide risk, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions fostering social integration, improving economic opportunities, and strengthening community support for vulnerable populations.