Difference of self-rated health level between single-person households and non single-person households in Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Introduction : Since 1960s, Korea has achieved such an advancement on economic growth with industrialization and urbanization. As a result, the proportion of single-person households in Seoul has been rising sharply from 4.5% in 1980 to 24.4% in 2010 (Population and Housing Census, Korea National Statistical Office). The majority of the single-person households consist of 20s to 30s under 64-year-old people especially in Seoul. Therefore, the characteristics related with young and middle-aged single-person households could be the key to prepare the future health policies for the single-person households. The aim of this study is to investigate the difference of self-rated health level between single-person households and non single-person households and figure out the influence factors acting on the difference of self-rated health level between single-person households and non single-person households.

Methods : This study used the Korea Community Health Survey(KCHS) data of 2011. To explore the association between household type and self-rated health level, 8,565 adults aged 19-64 (997 adults who were in the single-person households and 7,568 adults who were in the non single-person households) who lived in Seoul, Korea were randomly selected from each household as a study population. All variables were from the KCHS(the Korea Community Health Survey) questionnaire. To achieve the objectives of this study, descriptive statistics, age stratification, and logistic regression analysis were carried out.

Results : According to the results of univariate logistic regression analysis, the association between household type and self-rated health level was statistically significant(OR : 1.27, CI : 1.03-1.57). And, the odds ratio in the 50-64 age group is also statistically significant(OR : 1.64, CI : 1.21-2.22) among the age groups results. As to the results of the multiple logistic regression analysis, the subjects who are older, low household income earner, less-educated, economically inactive(unemployed), never drinker and have had experiences of diagnosis with chronic disease and dissatisfaction of medical needs are associated with poor self-rated health level significantly. Moreover, regular participation in leisure activities is considerably associated with poor self-rated health level. However, frequent contacts with family, friends and neighbors is not statistically significant in the association with poor self-rated health level. In addition, the association between type of household and poor self-rated health level in each age group are not statistically significant after adjusting other factors.

Conclusion : The results of the study reaches the certain conclusion that the powerful factors effects on the difference of self-rated health level between two household types are socio-demographic factors, experiences of disease diagnosis and dissatisfied medical needs and social participation rather than household type. In addition, the factors can decrease effects of the single-person household on the poor self-rated health level in each age group varies considerably. Therefore, if the health policies for the single-person households can be focused on the significant factors in each age group, the policies will be effective in terms of customized single-person households interventions. As a result, this study can contribute to build the baseline data for the proper health policies targeting single-person households.