Single-Person Households Face Elevated Health Risks, Study Shows (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — People who live alone face a significantly higher risk of dying before age 65 compared with those who live with family, according to a large-scale international study released Sunday by South Korea’s public health authorities.
The research, conducted by the Korea National Institute of Health under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, analyzed health data from South Korea and Britain and found that single-person households were consistently more vulnerable to premature death across both societies.
The findings were published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, based on an analysis of National Health Insurance data covering about 2.44 million Koreans between 2006 and 2021, alongside records from the UK Biobank involving roughly 500,000 participants.
Compared with people living in multi-person households, those living alone showed a 25 percent higher overall mortality risk in South Korea and a 23 percent increase in Britain. The gap was more pronounced for early death — defined as dying before age 65 — with risks rising 35 percent among Koreans and 43 percent among Britons living alone.
The study found that prolonged solitary living further elevated danger, with individuals who lived alone for more than five years facing particularly heightened mortality risks.
Researchers attributed the increased vulnerability to a combination of economic hardship, psychological factors such as loneliness and depression, and unhealthy behaviors including smoking and obesity. Among these, low income emerged as the single most influential factor, accounting for more than 40 percent of the increased risk.
At the same time, the study found that lifestyle choices could significantly offset these dangers. Single-person households that practiced healthy behaviors — including not smoking, moderating alcohol consumption and exercising regularly — reduced their overall mortality risk by 57 percent and their risk of early death by 44 percent compared with those who did not manage their health.
Notably, the protective effect of healthy habits was stronger among people living alone than among those living with others, suggesting that lifestyle management can substantially counteract the health vulnerabilities associated with social isolation.
Nam Jae-hwan, head of the National Institute of Health, said the findings provide scientific evidence that social isolation and deteriorating daily habits are central drivers of health inequality in an era of rapidly rising single-person households.
Lim Seung-kwan, commissioner of the disease control agency, said the government would work with related ministries to strengthen tailored chronic disease prevention programs and social support networks, particularly for low-income and socially isolated individuals.
Single-person households now represent one of the fastest-growing demographic groups worldwide, and health officials said the study highlights the urgent need for policies that address not only medical care, but also the social conditions shaping long-term health outcomes.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
