A Study on the Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among the Elderly People Living Alone

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify determinants of depressive symptoms among elderly Korean people living alone. The data used in this study were “2008 National Data on the Elderly”. The data were analyzed by statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, t-test, and multiple regression analysis. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. First, over 60% of the elderly living alone reported having depressive symptoms that indicated that they had mild or an above mild level of depression. Second, multiple regression analysis revealed that gender, age, religion, education, perceived economic condition, the numbers of chronic diseases, and perceived of health status were significant predictors of depression. In other words, women were more likely than men to fall into depression. The degree of depression increased with age. The elders who have religion, more education, more self-rated economic status, less physical illness, and more perceived health status were likely to have low degree of depression. Third, the informal social ties had also impact on depression. The numbers of offsprings and the satisfaction of relationship between the elderly and their adult children were significantly related to depression. In addition, more satisfaction of relationship between the elderly and the relatives reported less depressive symptoms. The implications for research in the relation of these factors among the elderly living alone were addressed.