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Living alone showed significant associations with dietary quality and health among South Korean adults
Author(s) -
Nam SoYoung,
Lee SooKyung
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.904.4
Subject(s) - medicine , socioeconomic status , gerontology , demography , quality of life (healthcare) , activities of daily living , logistic regression , environmental health , population , physical therapy , nursing , sociology
As more number of people are living alone, whether individuals living alone would be at higher risk of nutritional status and health compared to those not living alone has gained interests. This study aimed to examine whether and how the status of living alone was associated with dietary quality and health among Korean adults using 1998‐2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The proportion of individuals living alone were significantly different by year (p=0.000) with a slight increase (5.4 % in 1998 to 7.4% in 2012). In general, being a woman (p<0.05), elderly groups (p=0.000), rural region (p<0.05), lower education (p=0.000), lower income (p<0.000), and occupation (p<0.05) was significantly associated with Living alone. People living alone reported worse perceived health status (p=0.000) and showed higher prevalence of hypertension (p=0.000) than those not living alone throughout the years. Other diseases also tended to be higher among those living alone with less consistent statistical significance over years. Individuals living alone reported a lesser diet quality by less proportions of those meeting the level of EER for energy and EAR (RI) for major nutrients (p=0.000). The significant association between living alone and dietary quality were not found in multiple logistic analyses. In conclusion, people living alone appeared to have lower health status and diet quality with possible mediating effects from other socioeconomic factors. This study was supported by Inha University Faculty Grant.