Analysis of Major Factors Affecting the Quality of Life of the Elderly in Korea in Preparation for a Super-Aged Society

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 4;19(15):9618. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159618.

Abstract

In preparation for the expected super-aged society in 2025, this study attempted to prepare basic data that can help design development measures for the welfare of the elderly so that everyone can prepare for a healthy and happy retirement. Accordingly, the major factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly in Korea were verified. To this end, the questionnaire consisted of 22 questions in total, and a mobile survey was conducted between September and October 2021; in total, 250 copies were used for the final analysis, and the following conclusions are derived. The major factors that were found to determine the quality of life of the elderly were age, subjective health status, monthly household income, leisure activities, and health inequality fairness. It was found that the higher the age, the lower the quality of life. Further, the higher the subjective health status, monthly household income, participation in leisure activities, and perceptions of health inequality as fair, the more the quality of life of the elderly was affected. Therefore, policy support such as leisure activity, health programs, and medical welfare services for the elderly and sufficient attention from our society are all required.

Keywords: elderly; health inequality; leisure activities; quality of life; subjective health status.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Health Status
  • Health Status Disparities*
  • Humans
  • Leisure Activities
  • Quality of Life*
  • Republic of Korea

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.