A Longitudinal Analysis of Factors Affecting Cognitive Function of elderly living alone by Poverty Status1)

The purpose of this study is to compare the level of cognitive function, and physical, emotional, and social characteristics of elderly living alone according to their poverty status, and to longitudinally investigate the factors affecting cognitive function. The study included 660 the elderly living alone over the age of 65 who were selected from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing(KLoSA) panel data from the fifth year(2014) to the eighth year(2020). Panel regression analysis with random effect model was used to determine the influence of physical, emotional, and social factors on cognitive function. The findings are as the followings: First, the poor elderly living alone were more vulnerable in cognitive function, sociodemographic, physical, and psychological aspects compared to the non-poor elderly living alone. Second, age, level of education, area of residence, religion, subjective health status, depression, life satisfaction, and frequency of contact with close friends were found to be common factors for the elderly living alone groups. Third, gender, activities of daily living, and exercise frequency were found to be factors affecting the cognitive function of the poor elderly living alone, and the number of chronic diseases was that of the non-poor elderly living alone. Through this, it is suggested that it is necessary to classify the elderly living alone according to living conditions such as poverty status. It is needed to be recognized that living alone is a natural form of life rather than an unconditional negative life. It is necessary to pay attention to identifying and supporting the high-level needs of the elderly living alone, such as the ability to live independently, perception of the meaning of life, and self-actualization.