Adults Living Alone Have a Higher Risk of Depression

"Loneliness Increases Health Risk"

A study has found that adults living alone have a higher incidence of depression.

On the 16th, US News cited research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reporting that living alone can have negative effects on both physical and mental health compared to living with others.

According to a recent CDC study, as of 2021, 6.4% of adults living alone experienced depression. In contrast, only about 4.1% of adults living with others reported experiencing depression. This was based on responses from 29,482 participants in the 2021 National Health Interview Survey.

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The researchers stated, "People living alone may be at greater risk of social isolation and loneliness compared to those living with a spouse or partner." The CDC pointed out that loneliness can increase the risk of various health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, addiction, extreme choices, dementia, and premature death.

In the United States, the proportion of adults living alone is rapidly increasing. From 2012 to 2022, the number of American adults living alone rose by 14.5%, from 33.1 million to 37.9 million. Single-person households accounted for 28.9% of all U.S. households in 2022, more than doubling since 1962 (13.6%).

However, the researchers noted that a definitive link between living alone and depression cannot be established, as various factors such as employment and community involvement may have influenced depression.

Meanwhile, in 2021, 4.5% of American adults were found to have experienced depression, with a higher rate among women (5.2%) than men (3.7%). However, among adults living alone, the proportion reporting feelings of depression was similar for women (6.6%) and men (6.3%).