Association Between Employment Status and Suicidal Ideation in Korean Adults

Abstract

Objective Employment status is a key indicator of socioeconomic status, and unstable employment conditions can cause various social problems. However, research in Asian populations on the association between employment status and mental health, particularly suicidal ideation, remains relatively limited. This study investigated the association between employment status and suicidal ideation in general population in South Korea. Methods Using data from the 2015, 2017, and 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 6,509 participants aged ≥20 years were analyzed. Suicidal ideation was characterized by individuals considering suicide seriously within the past year. Covariates were adjusted to account for factors such as sociodemographic, health behavior, and mental health factors. Multi-variable logistic regression was performed, along with stratified analyses by subgroups of sociodemographic, health behavior, and mental health factors to assess effect modification. Results In our KNHANES data analysis, unemployed individuals had 1.85 times higher odds of reporting suicidal ideation compared to employed individuals (adjusted odds ratio, 1.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.41–2.44; p<0.001). In subgroup analysis, all covariates— except women and low body mass index—showed effect modification on the association between employment status and suicidal ideation. Conclusion This study demonstrated that unemployed status was significantly associated with increased suicidal ideation. These findings suggest that further research and policy attention are warranted to better understand and address the mental health needs of unemployed individuals. Psychiatry Investig 2025;22(12):1398-1405.