Prevalence and correlates of living alone among elderly in Iran

 This study examined the pattern and trend of living alone among elderly during the last five censuses in Iran. Data were obtained from two main sources: published Iranian population and housing census (1986, 1996, 2006, 2011 and 2016), and the individual data of 2% census in 2016. Then the characteristics of the sole elderly are described and the extent to which living alone is related to socioeconomic and demographic characteristics is determined. In order to investigate the relative importance of different correlates of the elderly living alone, a set of logistic regression models using STATA software for individual data of 2016 census has been used. The proportion of the elderly who lived alone was 13.9%, 9.9%, 9.9%, 14.5%, and 14.9% in 1986, 1996, 2006, 2011 and 2016 respectively. Living alone was associated with residence in urban, being male, having a secondary and high school education, being widowed, divorced, single, being housewife, having income with no job, age 60-69, and age 70-79. The variables included in the analysis were able to explain 43% of the variation in living alone in the whole sample (48% for men and 35% for women). In Iran, living alone increased with age, life in urban areas, being a woman, being single, divorced, widowhood, being low educated, housekeeper and unemployment. If the ageing and the lack of supporting organizations continue to increase, then more difficult conditions will be created for elderly the future. Thus, considering the vulnerability of elderly people who live alone, the need for more appropriate policy and planning is required.