Analysis of Research Trends on Depression in Elderly People Living Alone

Abstract

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the research trends on depression of the elderly living alone in Korea and to drive implications. Methods A total of 71 papers dealing with the subjects related to depression of the elderly living alone among the domestic journals published for 10 years from 2013 to August 2023 were analyzed. In the analysis of each research topic, biological, psychological, social, and health-related factors were used, and classification by depression measurement tool was carried out. In addition, in order to understand the current status of the variables studied with depression, the analysis was conducted by independent variables, mediating variables, moderating variables, and dependent variables. Results First, in terms of the publication status of academic journals by year, the largest number of researches were conducted in 2016 with 10 (14.08%), and researches on the subject of depression of the elderly living alone were steadily conducted. Second, as a result of analysis by research subjects, 57 were the elderly living alone and 12 were the elderly women living alone. Third, in the analysis by research method, the survey research was the largest with 50, followed by 12 experimental research, 5 mixed research, and 4 qualitative research. Fourth, as a result of analysis by data analysis method, quantitative analysis was the highest with 62, and regression analysis was the highest with 47. Fifth, in the analysis of research topics and contents, psychological factors accounted for 69.23%, social factors 20.51%, health-related factors 7.05%, and biological factors 3.21%. Conclusions Based on these results, implications and suggestions for research on depression of the elderly living alone in Korea were provided.