The Influence of Living Alone on Depression in Elderly Persons

Abstract

The mental health effects of living alone on elderly persons are not well known. Using multiple regression models, the authors attempted to distinguish the influence of living alone on depressive symptoms from the influence of other highly relevant variables: social support, stressors, age, sex, and marital status. The data derive from a stratified community probability sample of persons 50 years of age and older. The authors find that elderly persons who live alone have higher levels of depressive symptomatology; and this relationship is independent of the influence of expressive support from friends, face-to-face interaction with friends, undesirable life events, disability, and financial strain. The depressive influence of living alone is greater on men than women. Undesirable health events have a stronger impact on those who live alone, particularly women. Marital status influences depression indirectly through its influence on living alone. Implications of these and other findings are discussed.