Senior cohousing as a protective factor against loneliness: a comparative study of rural older women in Korea during COVID-19

Loneliness among rural older women intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior cohousing has been promoted as a community-based model to counteract isolation, yet little is known about its protective role compared to independent living in rural contexts. This mixed-methods study examined how publicly subsidized rural senior cohousing in Korea influenced changes in loneliness during the pandemic. Quantitative data came from 160 rural older women—82 residents of senior cohousing at baseline who returned to independent living after pandemic-related closures, and 78 women who lived alone throughout – surveyed before and during COVID-19. Changes in loneliness and depressive symptoms were analyzed, with attention to mediating roles of social interaction, service access, and physical environment. Former cohousing residents experienced significantly smaller increases in loneliness and depressive symptoms than women who remained living alone. Mediation analysis indicated that community service access and peer interaction buffered psychological distress. Qualitative interviews with 18 former cohousing residents highlighted the importance of communal dining, mutual care, and shared identity, alongside the loss experienced after closures. Unlike resident-driven Western models, the Korean case operates with minimal staffing and relies on grassroots services. Findings suggest that rural senior cohousing can serve as relational infrastructure mitigating social vulnerability during crises.