Factors influencing perceived risk of lonely death among older adults living alone: analysis of the 2024 Seoul Senior Citizen Survey.

BACKGROUND

As the elderly population in Korea rapidly increases, issues related to lonely death have also emerged as a social concern. The purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing the subjectively perceived risk of lonely death among older adults living alone.

METHODS

This study employed a cross-sectional design using secondary data from the seventh wave (2024) of the Seoul Senior Citizen Survey. A total of 955 older adults aged ≥65 years living alone in Seoul were included in the analysis. Descriptive statistics, Rao-Scott χ2 tests, F-tests, and complex sample multinomial logistic regression were conducted using complex sample procedures.

RESULTS

Significant differences across the lonely death risk groups (low, moderate, and high) were observed in relation to gender, education, household income, economic satisfaction, housing satisfaction, frequency of in-person contact, eating alone, satisfaction with social relationships and social/cultural activities, depression, history of falls, instrumental activities of daily living, subjective health, and preparedness for dying alone. Factors significantly associated with the subjectively perceived risk of lonely death included low housing satisfaction, eating alone, dissatisfaction with social relationships, and preparedness for dying alone. The perceived risk of lonely death among older adults living alone varies according to a range of social, economic, and environmental factors.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study may serve as foundational resources for future research and policy development aimed at preventing lonely death.