Socioeconomic Deprivation and Depressive Symptom Trajectories in Single-Person Households: A Life-Course Perspective

The rise in single-person households has increased concern over their mental health, particularly depression. This study investigated how multidimensional socioeconomic deprivation shapes depressive symptom trajectories across adulthood. Using six waves (2018–2023) of data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study, latent growth modeling was conducted on 2,094 adults aged 20 and older living alone. Depressive symptoms increased over time. Social and health-related deprivation predicted both the intercept and slope of symptoms, while basic living, social security, and economic deprivation influenced only baseline severity. Social deprivation consistently emerged as a key risk factor across all life stages. These findings highlight the role of structural disadvantage in depression among single-living adults and inform strategies for early detection and tailored psychosocial interventions. Though based on Korean data, the study offers a conceptual framework applicable to other societies experiencing similar demographic and social shifts.