A new academic study has found that low-income elderly South Koreans are far more likely to eat meals alone—an experience closely tied to increased levels of depression. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Elderly South Koreans with lower incomes are significantly more likely to eat meals alone—and that isolation is closely linked to higher levels of depression, a new academic study has found.
Published in the latest issue of the Korean Journal of Gerontology, the study titled “A Path Analysis of Income, Solitary Eating, and Depression Among Older Adults” found that solitary dining acts as a key mediator between low income and poor mental health outcomes among the elderly.
Researchers analyzed data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, focusing on 1,712 individuals aged 65 and older. The average participant was 72.3 years old, with women comprising 56.8 percent of the sample.
The findings show that seniors with higher household incomes were less likely to eat alone and exhibited lower levels of depression. In contrast, those with lower incomes were more prone to dine alone and displayed significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms.
Solitary dining was particularly prevalent among men and individuals without spouses—populations that are also seeing a rise in single-person households.
According to Statistics Korea’s 2024 One-Person Household Report, single-person households accounted for 35.3 percent of all households in 2023. Among them, 19.1 percent were individuals aged 70 or older—the largest proportion of any age group.
“Eating is not just a biological necessity; it’s a vital act of social interaction,” the researchers noted. “Low-income seniors often forgo these social connections due to the financial burden of maintaining relationships, prioritizing economic survival over emotional wellbeing.”
While some local governments and NGOs provide food delivery services for low-income seniors, the study criticized these initiatives for focusing solely on nutritional needs without addressing the social dimension of mealtimes.
The authors recommended that community-based institutions, such as senior centers and welfare facilities, expand their offerings to include shared meals aimed at fostering social bonds among economically vulnerable seniors.
The research underscores the growing mental health challenges facing Korea’s aging population, particularly as the number of elderly living alone continues to rise alongside shifting family structures and life expectancy.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
