Living Alone, Social Activities and Depressive Symptoms in Older Korean Men and Women: An Analysis of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA)

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate gender differences in the associations between living alone and different types of social activities, as well as their relationship to depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older Korean adults. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using data from 4481 adults 65 years of age or older who participated in the 2024 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, living alone was positively associated with depressive symptoms in older women, but not in men. Contact with close friends was associated with fewer depressive symptoms among both older men and women. Contact with close friends mediated the association between living alone and depressive symptoms in women, but not in men. Conclusions: This study found some evidence of gender differences regarding the links between living alone, different types of social activities, and depressive symptoms among older adults.