Impacts of Extended Unemployment on Life Satisfaction of Young Adults Through Social Exclusion and Loneliness: Moderating Roles of Parental Socioeconomic Status

This study investigates the impact of extended unemployment on the life satisfaction of young adults, focusing on social exclusion and loneliness as mediators, with parental socioeconomic status as a moderator. Youth unemployment poses significant economic, psychological, and social challenges. Despite increased awareness, there is still a research gap in understanding the pathways through which extended unemployment affects well-being, particularly the mechanisms of social exclusion and loneliness, and the role of parental socioeconomic status. Using data from the 2022 Seoul Youth Panel Survey and structural equation modeling, this study found that both social exclusion and loneliness significantly mediate the negative relationship between extended unemployment and life satisfaction. The indirect effect mediating through loneliness is stronger than the effect through social exclusion, emphasizing the importance of addressing emotional well-being. Additionally, different types of unemployment have distinct effects: young adults in informal or part-time employment report higher life satisfaction than those formally unemployed, suggesting that employment type significantly influences well-being outcomes. Parental socioeconomic status reduces the negative impact of unemployment, acting as a socioeconomic buffer reinforcing social inequalities. These findings highlight the complex effects of extended unemployment, underscoring the need to address both social and emotional consequences. Understanding these pathways and moderating factors provides insight into mitigating the broader impacts of youth unemployment on well-being.