Type of Social Activity and Morale in Later Life : A Comparison between Male and Female

Abstract

This article explored the relationship between social activity and morale among elderly in terms of gender. The data for the analysis were drawn from Hallym Aging Panel Data. This data consisted of four wave data from 2003 to 2009. The sample for this study consisted of three-wave data for 774 persons aged 54 years and over in the year of first wave. The data were analyzed using hierarchical linear model technique. The results were the following: For elderly women, morale shows a positive relationship with participation in informal activity but no significant relationship with participation in formal activity. On the contrary, for elderly men, morale shows no significant relationship with informal activity but a positive relationship with formal activity. The results of the study imply that not only the characteristics of social activity but also the characteristics of social groups are important to understand the relationship between social activity and happiness of life in old age. Namely, not all activities but activities matched with self or identity are beneficial to happiness in old age.