Comparison of Mental Health between the Older People Living Alone and Older People Not Living Alone before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Using the 2019-2020 Korea Community Health Survey

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify comparison of mental health before and after outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in older people living alone and those who do not live alone, using the 2019-2020 Community Health Survey data.Methods: 146,063 older people aged 65 years or older were selected as participants using the Community Health Survey. The data were analyzed with frequency test, χ₂-test and multiple logistic regression analysis using SPSS 27.0.Results: In mental health, compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic, the subjective health of the older people living alone and the older people who did not live alone increased, and stress and depression decreased. However, the overall mental health of the older people living alone was worse than that of the older people who did not live alone.Conclusions: After the pandemic, it is necessary to continuously monitor the mental health of the older people, and in particular, to develop and apply programs to promote the mental health of the older people living alone.