Community Health Perspectives on Middle-aged Adults Living Alone: A Scoping Review

This scoping review synthesizes evidence on the physical health, mental well-being, health behaviors, and overall quality of life of middle-aged adults living alone, highlighting its significance from a community health perspective. Recognizing the rapid growth of this demographic, this review evaluates the current research landscape, identifies critical gaps, and explores opportunities for targeted interventions. Following the JBI Scoping Review Guidelines, comprehensive searches were conducted in Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, APA PsycInfo, and CINAHL Complete for studies published between 2000 and 2024 on middle-aged adults (45-64 years) living alone. Randomized and non-randomized trials and quantitative and qualitative studies were considered. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts before performing full-text reviews of the articles. Data on study characteristics, participant profiles, and health-related outcomes were extracted. Of the 19,519 studies initially identified, 44 were included. The studies were categorized based on design, population characteristics, and health outcomes. The results indicate that middle-aged adults living alone experience poorer physical and mental health and engage in less favorable health behaviors than their counterparts in multi-person households. Key determinants, such as socioeconomic status, geographic location, and healthcare access, contribute to these disparities. These findings underscore the urgent need for community-based strategies to reduce social isolation, improve healthcare accessibility, and promote healthier lifestyles, thereby addressing the critical public health gaps faced by this vulnerable population.