Association between living alone period, social isolation and death in middle-aged and older adults

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyze the relationship between the living alone period and social isolation among middle-aged and older adults and mortality, and to identify vulnerable groups considering individual characteristics. METHOD: This study was conducted using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) from 2006 to 2020. The subjects of the study were 5,897 adults aged 45 and older. To observe the association between the living alone period and social isolation with all-cause mortality, a Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis was performed. Additionally, a subgroup analysis was conducted considering individual characteristics such as sex and age. RESULTS: The association between the living alone period and social isolation with all-cause mortality showed that the risk of death was highest in the group that experienced living alone for more than three years and was in a state of social isolation. Next, the risk of death increased in the group that was not living alone but was socially isolated. The subgroup analysis results indicated that the groups with the strongest association between the living alone period, social isolation, and mortality risk were female, those aged 65-74 years. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this study emphasizes the need for policies and interventions addressing the issues of living alone and social isolation among middle-aged and older adults. It is particularly important to develop tailored support programs or policies that consider various factors such as sex, age. Through interventions like home visits and the formation of social networks, it is essential to mitigate social isolation among the elderly and create an environment where they can enjoy a healthy old age.