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Original Article
- The Role of Family Interaction Frequency on Depressive Symptoms in Korean Older Adults Aged ≥80 and Living Alone
- Horim A. Hwang, Bo Yung Bae, Hyunsuk Jeong, Minsun Yun, Jungeun Choi, Yujin Jeong, Hyeon Woo Yim
- J Prev Med Public Health. 2026;59(1):86-94. Published online December 1, 2025
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.25.222
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Abstract
Summary
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Supplementary Material - Objectives
Korea is one of the fastest-aging societies, and a large proportion of its older population lives alone. This study examined the impact of family interaction frequency on the association between living alone and depressive symptoms among older adults aged ≥80 years using nationally representative survey data.
Methods
Among the 229 099 participants of the 2019 Korea Community Health Survey, 15 672 participants aged ≥80 years who either lived with close family or lived alone were included in the analysis. Participants living alone were classified according to the frequency of family interaction, ranging from less than once a month to more than once a week. The outcome variable was moderate to severe depressive symptoms, defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of ≥10.
Results
The prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher among older adults living alone (9.4–14.1%, depending on the frequency of family interaction) than among those living with close family (6.5%). Older adults living alone who interacted with family less than once a month were more likely to report depressive symptoms compared with those living with close family (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36 to 2.15). Weekly family interaction mitigated the impact of living alone on the prevalence of depressive symptoms (aOR 1.10; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.42). The influence of family interaction on the association between living alone and depressive symptoms remained consistent across subgroups of men, women, and those with difficulty in daily activities.
Conclusions
Encouraging regular interaction among family members could serve as an effective strategy to protect the mental health of older adults. -
SummaryKorean summary
본 연구는 2019년 지역사회건강조사에 참여한 만 80세 이상의 노인 15,672 명의 자료를 활용하여, 가족과의 정기적인 소통이 독거로 인한 우울증상 유병률의 증가에 미치는 요인을 확인하고자 하였다. 가까운 가족인 배우자 또는 자식과 동거하는 노인들과 비교해 보았을 때, 주 1회 이상의 소통을 하는 독거 노인들의 우울증상 교차비는 유의하게 높지 않았다. 가족과의 정기적인 소통의 보호효과는 성별 또는 일상생활에 어려움에 따른 층화 분석을 한 경우에도 일관된 효과를 보였다.Key Message
This study explored whether sufficiently frequent family interactions mitigate the increased odds of reporting depressive symptoms due to living alone among older adults aged ≥80. Family interaction of once a week or more frequent mitigated the impact of living alone among the older adults. The protective effect of family interaction remained consistent across gender and difficulty in daily activities.
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