Living alone as a social determinant of health: evidence from a national health survey

The phenomenon of living alone has become an increasingly prevalent social reality in today's world. This situation affects individuals' living conditions and health in various ways. This study investigates whether living alone constitutes a social determinant of health status and aims to examine the socio-demographic factors associated with living alone. The study was based on the secondary analysis of the data from the 2022 Turkish Health Survey conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute. Data from 13 151 individuals were used in a cross-sectional design. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the effect of living alone on health status outcomes, controlling for variables such as age, gender, education, marital status, and working status. As a result of the study, it was determined that the likelihood of living alone was higher among males, individuals aged 65 years and older, those with higher levels of education, divorced or widowed individuals, and those who were actively working. It was found that those living alone had an increased risk for instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and depressive disorders. It was concluded that living alone has adverse effects on health, and the risks of depression and IADLs limitation are increased in individuals living alone. Therefore, it is recommended that living alone should be recognised as an important social determinant of health and policymakers should develop preventive and supportive interventions for this situation.