Living alone, not in isolation: Korean older adults’ time use for social engagement and living arrangements

• In Event: Aging and the Life Course Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): 10: Social Connection and Engagement Among Older Adults

Abstract

One of the most significant demographic changes in South Korea over recent decades has been the rapid increase in the share of the population living alone, particularly among older adults. Numerous studies have compared subjective measures of mental health and loneliness across living arrangements and typically report poorer mental health outcomes among those living alone. However, existing research has rarely examined how older adults who live alone actually spend their day compared to those who live with others. While assessments of mental health are important, a more comprehensive understanding of older adults’ well-being across various living arrangements requires examining how they allocate their time, especially to activities associated with better mental health outcomes, such as social interaction, participation, and non-sedentary leisure. Using data from the 2024 Korea Time Use Survey, we examine how older adults spend their time on three types of socially oriented activities. Time spent on these activities should offer insight into the extent to which they remain connected to the social world. Recognizing further heterogeneity among those living alone and living with others, we compare time-use patterns across five groups: two groups that live alone, due to widowhood and other reasons (mainly divorce), and three groups that live with others (with spouse, others, or both). Our results suggest that living alone does not necessarily equate to social isolation or detachment among older adults and that there is indeed heterogeneity among those living alone, depending on their marital status. Female older adults who live alone after the death of a spouse tend to be more socially engaged compared to other groups, while their male counterparts are not particularly different from others in terms of social interaction and social participation. Widowed older men living alone, however, did tend to spend less time on active leisure activities, all else equal.

Authors

• HJ Katelyn Kim, University of Pennsylvania

• Hyunjoon Park, University of Pennsylvania