(see Poster Gallery) Effects of Social Exclusion on Subjective Health and Depression of People with Developmental Disabilities in South Korea

Background: We analyzed the effect of social exclusion on the subjective health and depression of people with developmental disabilities. Various studies have been conducted on the topic of social exclusion in South Korea. However, the social exclusion gap is still large for people with disabilities compared to people without disabilities. Accordingly, the need for social exclusion research for each type of disability is raised. Among various types of disability, it is reported that the social exclusion of people with developmental disabilities is more serious than other types of disability. Therefore, this study is the first attempt to verify whether social exclusion for people with developmental disabilities is more serious than other types of disabilities and the effect of social exclusion on subjective health and depression of people with developmental disabilities.

Methods: We used the Panel Survey of Employment for persons with disabilities data that covered the 1^th wave (2016) to the 4^th wave (2019). For analysis, we employed T-test, GEE(Generalized Estimating Equation) models to conduct panel regression and logistic regression analyses. The treatment group was 182 persons with developmental disabilities, and the control group was set up as 1,213 persons with non-developmental disabilities. Based on the QIC(quasi-likelihood information criterion) value, auto correlation assumption was assumed, AR1 for subjective health, and unstructured correlation for depression. Social exclusion included economic, housing, social relations, social participation, and medical exclusion.

Results: First, we found that people with developmental disabilities were significantly more excluded from economic, housing and participation exclusion than people with non-developmental disabilities. Second, social exclusion significantly adversely affected the subjective health of persons with developmental disabilities: economic exclusion - no employment, housing exclusion - less than the substandard housing conditions(14㎡ or less) and relationship exclusion - discrimination experience. Third, depression was significantly affected by substandard housing conditions(14㎡ or less), experience of discrimination and non-participation in daily life. As a result, in order to improve the health of people with developmental disabilities in Korea, we proposed the priority for resolving social exclusion based on the odds ratio.

Conclusions: The priorities for resolving social exclusion to improve the health of people with developmental disabilities in Korea are as follows. For promotion of physical health: 1. increase in employment rate, 2. eradication of discrimination against people with developmental disabilities, 3. improvement of housing conditions are needed, For improvement of depression: 1. improvement of housing conditions, 2. eradication of discrimination against people with developmental disabilities, 3. Increase participation in daily life necessary. Our study suggested solutions to improve the health of people with developmental disabilities.