• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.418-431
• /
• 2022

Purpose: The aims of this study were to examine the rate of depression among older adults living alone and to identify factors associated with depression in older adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A secondary data analysis was performed using data from the 2020 Korea Community Health Survey. The study participants were 18,824 older adults aged 65 years and over living alone. The data of the complex sample design was analyzed with consideration for weights, stratification, and clustering. Complex sample multiple logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with depression in older adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The results showed that the rate of depression in older adults living alone was 6.3%. Older adults living alone with decreased physical activity, decreased hours of sleep, and an increased or similar frequency of meeting with friends or neighbors were found to be more likely to have depression. In terms of factors related to the practice of COVID-19 infection prevention and control rules, not disinfecting regularly and not wearing a mask indoors were related to depression. For health-related factors, fair or poor self-rated health status, not having breakfast every day, and feeling stressed were related to depression. Conclusion: It is recommended to develop tailored interventions to prevent depression among older adults living alone by considering the factors related to their depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.127-139
• /
• 2024

Purpose: This study evaluates activities of daily living activities, health status, and nutritional-related characteristics of older adults living alone by age. Methods: This study analyzed data from aged 65 or older who participated in the National Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare. Data were collected on the following factors: demographic characteristics, comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), need for assistance with activities of daily living, exercise, subjective health status, Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS), and short form of Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K). The definition of malnutrition is BMI <18.5 kg/m² . Results: A total of 3,136 participants were included, with 1,488 classified as younger older adults and 1,648 classified as older older adults. The prevalence of hypertension, difficulties in daily living, need for daily living assistance, MMSE-DS, and SGDS-K scores were significantly higher in the older older adults than in the younger older adults. Both groups had low levels of participation in education and use of community centers or welfare centers. The distribution of cognitive function decline and depression was high in the malnourished group. Furthermore, the malnourished group without cognitive decline or depression had higher monthly income, exercise performance, and use of electronic device. Conclusion: Older adults who live alone suffer from poor health behaviors, activities of daily living, and nutritional status, and the older adults are even more vulnerable. Therefore, monitoring of older adults living alone with poor living conditions is necessary, and intensive efforts are needed to improve their health and functional status.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.227-239
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the differences in the reciprocal causal relationship between cognitive function and depressive symptoms depending on whether older adults lived with others or alone. Methods: We used panel data retrieved from the sixth (Time 1) and seventh (Time 2) waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). The study sample included 2,638 older adults living with others and 628 older adults living alone. We conducted cross-lagged panel analyses (CLPA) to identify the bidirectional causal relationship between cognitive function and depressive symptoms in the groups of older adults living with others and those living alone. Results: In the group of older adults living with others, cognitive function and depressive symptoms showed significant reciprocal relationships. In the group of older adults living alone, although the CLPA confirmed that higher levels of depressive symptoms at Time 1 influenced lower levels of cognitive function at Time 2, cognitive function at Time 1 was not associated with depressive symptoms at Time 2. Conclusion: The results suggest that the strategies for preventing cognitive decline and depressive symptoms should be developed according to whether the older adults live alone. Moreover, further studies should identify factors influencing depressive symptoms among older adults living alone, which will ultimately enable the management of depressive symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Gerontological Social Welfare
• /
• v.74 no.2
• /
• pp.163-192
• /
• 2019

This study examined the relationship between meaning in life, depression, and suicidal ideation among older adults. It further verified the mediating effects of depression by distinguishing between those living alone and those living with others, with the aim of developing effective countermeasures against suicidality among older adults. Data was collected from 525 older adults aged 65 and over, using welfare centers and day care centers in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. We used multi-group analysis to identify path differences between living alone and living with others. Living along older adults found less meaning in their lives and showed higher suicidal ideation and depression levels than older adults living with others. In both groups, meaning in life had a negative effect on depression, while depression had a positive effect on suicidal ideation. Depression had a mediating effect on the relationship between meaning in life and suicidal ideation in both groups. Multi-group analysis did not find any path differences between the two groups. Based on our results, we suggest practical and policy interventions to reduce the suicidal ideation in older adults by increasing their meaning in life and decreasing their levels of depression.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.21 no.12
• /
• pp.607-620
• /
• 2021

In the current study, the effects of living-alone older adults' social participation on their depressive symptoms were assessed. Data of 924 older adults from the Aging Research Panel Survey were analyzed. The results show that the effects of older adults' social participation on depressive symptoms vary depending on the types of social participation and gender. Men attending school or hometown alumni meetings and clan gatherings showed fewer depressive symptoms; women participating in informal social gatherings or organizations for leisure, culture, and sports had fewer depressive symptoms. The results suggest that living-alone older adults' gender and dimensions of social participation should be considered when designing programs and services to reduce their depressive symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.525-536
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate effectiveness of a peer support program conducted by older community volunteers for older adults living alone. Methods: Thirty volunteers trained as peer supporters were matched with low-income, older adults living alone in the community on gender. Visits occurred on a weekly basis over the 12 month study period, and the volunteers provided peer support for health management to solitary older adults. Data were collected, before the start of the program and again 6 and 12 months after its initialization, from intervention and control groups regarding physical health, general health, mental health, depression, social functioning, and satisfaction with social support. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze data. Results: By the end of the program, socially isolated older adults in the intervention group had significantly higher scores in physical health and general health than elders in the control group. Significant interaction effects between time and group were found for depression, social functioning, and satisfaction with social support. Conclusion: The peer support program undertaken by older community volunteers was effective in improving physical health, general health, depression, social functioning, and satisfaction with social support in socially isolated, low-income, older adults.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.149-162
• /
• 2024

This study is a longitudinal study of female older adults living alone, one of the most vulnerable groups in our society, to determine how their depression changes over time and what factors affect their depression. At the same time, considering that there is a large difference in age among the same older adults, this study divided the female older adults into the young-old and the old-old to see how the predictors of depression in each group differ from each other. The main findings are as follows First, depression among female older adults living alone appears to have a declining pattern over time. In the conditional model, factors affecting the initial level of the depression trajectory among women living alone were found to be associated with lower initial depression values among those living in metropolitan areas rather than non-metropolitan areas, better subjective health, and those who did not exercise. Next, we examined the factors affecting rate of change (slope) in depression among female living alone older adults and found that the higher the age, the larger the metropolitan area, the better the subjective health, the less socializing, and the more socializing, the greater the decrease in depression level. Finally, there were some differences in the pathways affecting the initial value and slope of depression among female older adults living alone between the early and late older adults. Specifically, the higher the initial level of participation in social activities, the greater the change in depression among the late older adults, while there was no significant relationship among the early older adults. In the early older adults, better initial subjective health was associated with a larger change in depression than in the late older adults. Only in the late older adults did those who regularly exercised in the early years have higher initial depression values than those who did not. Based on the results of the above analyses, suggestions were made to reduce depression among female older adults living alone.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.188-195
• /
• 2018

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the level of dementia knowledge of older Korean adults living alone in rural areas and to identify related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was applied. The participants were 231 older adults living alone who were recruited from 12 of the 13 primary health care posts in the rural area of Chuncheon. Participants' level of dementia knowledge was assessed using the Dementia Knowledge Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the t-test, analysis of variance, chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney test were applied. Results: Participants' mean age was $77.3{\pm}5.4$ years, and women comprised 79.7% of the sample. Over half of the participants (61.9%) had no formal education, and all the participants were enrolled in Medical Aid. The participants' average percentage of correct answers was 61.6%. The highest rate (94.4%) was for the item "Dementia can change one's personal character." The item with the lowest proportion of correct answers was "Dementia is not treatable" (23.4%). Dementia knowledge was significantly associated with age, education, health coverage, source of living expenses, and dementia risk. Conclusions: Dementia knowledge among Korean rural older adults living alone was relatively low. Participants' misconceptions about symptoms and treatment could hinder them from seeking early treatment. The results of this study suggest the need for active outreach and health care delivery for rural older adults living alone in South Korea.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.205-217
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the subjective health status (SHS) of low-income older adults living alone. Methods: This is a cross-sectional correlational study using secondary data analysis. Sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were included in this analysis. The health-related characteristics were categorized into three domains: physical, characterized by the number of chronic diseases and fall-related factors, timed up and go, and grip strength; psychological, in terms of depression and loneliness; and social, in terms of social support. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean SHS score was 2.46 out of five. Several factors influenced the SHS of low-income older adults living alone, including sex, age, level of education, monthly income, and the three domains. Four significant predictive factors of SHS in low-income older adults living alone were identified (42.5%): the number of chronic diseases, fear of falling, depression, and social support. Conclusion: SHS is a critical factor for older adults living alone on a low-income. Hence, evaluating SHS and developing interventions to improve it periodically is necessay. Such interventions should consider chronic disease management, screening and mediation for depression and fear of falling, and strengthening their social support systems.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.400-411
• /
• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Older men who live alone are more vulnerable to poor nutrition. However, little attention has been paid to malnutrition among this population. This study aimed to examine malnutrition and its associated factors among community-dwelling older men living alone. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study used cohort data of community-dwelling older adults living alone in South Korea. A total of 230 older men aged 65 and over were included in this study. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form. Multidimensional factors (sociodemographic, health-related, psychosocial, and lifestyle characteristics) were evaluated. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the malnutrition-related factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of malnutrition was 32.2% in older men living alone. Low income (odds ratio [OR], 2.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-5.90), polypharmacy (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.16-4.28), suicidal ideation (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.02-4.45), meal skipping (OR, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.60-6.64), and smoking (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.43-5.73) were significantly associated with malnutrition. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition is a severe health problem in older men living alone. This study highlights the importance of comprehensive and tailored interventions to mitigate malnutrition among older men living alone.