Relationship of health, sociodemographic, and economic factors and life satisfaction in young-old and old-old elderly: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship of health, sociodemographic, and economic factors and life satisfaction in young-old and old-old elderly groups. [Subjects and Methods] In the 2012 data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing, 4,134 of the final survey subjects aged 65 or older were analyzed. Multivaribale linear regression was performed to examine the degrees of explanatory power as factors (health, sociodemographic, and economic) in young-old (65 to 79 years) and old-old (80 years or older). [Results] Common variables that affected life satisfaction in both young-old and old-old subjects were health-related factors (depression, moderate to severe cognition, activities of daily living score), sociodemographic factors (level of education, familial communication, social activities), and economic factors (household assets, type of medical insurance). In the old-old group, age was an important associated factor. Mild cognitive impairment did not significantly affect life satisfaction in the old-old group, and only low-intensity social activities had an influence in the old-old group. [Conclusion] Difference in life satisfaction between the young-old and old-old elderly could be explained by gaps in the acceptance of the aging in health. Therefore, a personalized health consultation by life cycle could minimize these differences.