Differences between One-Person and Multi-Person Households on Socioeconomic Status, Health Behavior, and Metabolic Syndrome Across Gender and Age Groups
10.21215/kjfp.2019.9.4.373
- Author:
Young Kyung CHO
1
;
Kyung Won SHIM
;
Hye Won SUK
;
Hong Soo LEE
;
Sang Wha LEE
;
A Ri BYUN
;
Han Na LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womens University school of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ewhashim@ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Family Characteristics;
Social Class;
Health Behavior;
Metabolic Syndrome
- MeSH:
Alcohol Drinking;
Education;
Epidemiologic Studies;
Family Characteristics;
Female;
Health Behavior;
Hematologic Tests;
Humans;
Korea;
Male;
Nutrition Surveys;
Odds Ratio;
Smoke;
Smoking;
Social Class
- From:
Korean Journal of Family Practice
2019;9(4):373-382
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The rising popularity of one-person households makes the health hazards they are prone to, highly relevant in epidemiological studies. This study aimed at comparing health-related characteristics like the socioeconomic status, health behavior, and metabolic syndrome of one-person households, to multi-person households in Korea.METHODS: The participants required for this study included 9,423 Koreans aged 19 and above, who took the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The household types were classified into “one-person” and “multi-person.” The differences between the two, based on their annual socioeconomic status, health behavior, anthropometric variables, and blood test results were analyzed.RESULTS: The percentage of men and women in one-person households was 7.2% and 10.5%, respectively. Such households had a lower annual income and education than multi-person households. The odds ratios (OR) for alcohol consumption (OR, 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–2.46) and smoking (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.77–5.95) were significantly higher for one-person households of women, aged 60 and above, compared to multiperson households. The OR for metabolic syndrome was considerably higher in one-person households of middle-aged people in contrast to multiperson households for both men (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.14–2.95) and women (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.21–2.99).CONCLUSION: The socioeconomic status was lower, and the health behaviors were worse in one-person households as compared to multi-person households. Considering the growing popularity of one-person households, it is suggested that medical plans be customized to suit the characteristics of the specific group.
