Health Behaviors and Lifestyle Patterns of Elderly Living Alone in Korea
10.21215/kjfp.2019.9.3.247
- Author:
Chae Lin JOO
1
;
Jin Ju PARK
;
Areum KIM
;
Na Lee PARK
;
Jisun LIM
;
Hye Soon PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hyesoon@amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Aged People;
Solitary Life;
Health Behaviors;
Nutritional Status;
Mental Health
- MeSH:
Aged;
Aging;
Eating;
Employment;
Family Characteristics;
Female;
Health Behavior;
Humans;
Korea;
Life Style;
Logistic Models;
Male;
Mental Health;
Nutrition Surveys;
Nutritional Status;
Odds Ratio;
Quality of Life;
Smoke;
Smoking;
Social Class;
Social Isolation;
Suicide
- From:
Korean Journal of Family Practice
2019;9(3):247-253
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Korea's population is aging rapidly. Aged people who lead a solitary life are in a state of social isolation and face a greater risk of lower quality of life. The purpose of this study was to analyze the health behaviors and lifestyle patterns of aged people who lead a solitary life in Korea.METHODS: We analyzed 4,471 subjects (1,933 men and 2,538 women)-aged people aged 65 or above-based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (2013–2015). The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted with age, household income level, occupational status, and geographical region.RESULTS: Socioeconomic status was lower in aged people who lead a solitary life than in those living with family. The ORs for frequent eating out alone (OR=2.93; 95% CI 1.83–4.38), daily eating out alone (OR=2.40; 95% CI 1.25–4.60), smoking (OR=1.57; 95% CI 1.06–2.32), feeling sick or uncomfortable (OR=1.59; 95% CI 1.08–2.36), feeling depressed (OR=4.10; 95% CI 2.53–6.65), and suicide ideation (OR=2.06; 95% CI 1.21–3.51) were significantly higher in male subjects who lead a solitary life. The ORs for frequent eating out alone (OR=1.57; 95% CI 1.10–2.24) and inadequate sleep duration (OR=1.29; 95% CI 1.03–1.61) were significantly higher in female subjects who lead a solitary life.CONCLUSION: Aged people who lead a solitary life exhibited unhealthy behaviors and poor mental health. The elderly men who lead a solitary life faced higher risk of poor health than the women. Integrated management of lifestyle behaviors is required to improve the quality of health in aged people who lead a solitary life.
