Effects of Economic and Health Conditions on the Transition to Living Alone: A Longitudinal Study on Older Koreans

Abstract

It has been observed that older adults who are better off and healthier are more likely to live alone in Western societies. Little is, however, known about the transition to living alone in older adults in Korea. Using data from the four waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) over a period of six years, discrete time event history analyses were conducted to analyze the determinants of the transition to living alone for older Koreans. The findings show that home ownership and higher household income at a previous wave were negatively associated with the transition to living alone in general whereas prior depressive symptoms were positively associated with the transition to living alone for older Koreans. Physical health conditions, however, did not have significant effects on the transition to living alone. This suggests that older adults who were disadvantaged in terms of economic and mental health conditions have a higher likelihood of having the transition to living alone and also implies that the transition to living alone in disadvantaged older adults may amplify the harmful effects of living alone on their well-being in the long run.