Korea Welfare Panel Study Research Articles

Changes in Adaptation after Divorce over Time among Korean Older Adults: Focusing on Sex Differences

Purpose The purpose was to provide basic data for intervention methods to divorced older adults in the respect of nursing and social welfare. This research tried to verify adaptation over time after divorce among them paying special attention to sex differences. The data for analysis were the from 2014year, 2017year, and 2019year by the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS). Methods The subjects of this research are 234 divorced persons out of 3,198 who were 65 or over and included in the KoWePS as of 2014. Using the SPSS 21.0 version, this research did frequency, x2 test, t-test, ANCOVA and repeated measured ANOVA. Results First, in the short-term, females were better in at adjusting to divorced conditions than males. Second, there was no sex difference in adaptation after divorce over time. Rather, it was found that the effects of adaptation scores 5 years ago on the scores now were all significant. Females were found to be able to adjust themselves over time in various areas better than males. Conclusion This research demonstrates that, while female seniors are able to adjust themselves to post-divorce life better than males, males also can adjust themselves to changed conditions positively over time, although more slowly. Moreover, the adaptation levels immediately after divorce are more important in deciding the current levels of adaptation than sex differences. Thus, the adaptation improvement programs for divorced adults should be given in the early stages after divorce and such programs need to be more actively developed and supplied for male divorcees. 주요어: ì¢ ë‹¨ì—°êµ¬, 이혼, 성, ì ì‘, ë ¸ì¸ Key Words: Longitudinal study, Divorce, Sex, Adaptation, Older adults

How do changes to parental job insecurity affect children's health?

AbstractIn the last two decades, after the Asian financial crisis, Korea's employment composition has witnessed a rapid increase in temporary contractual work. I investigate the impact of changes in parental job status from employment with permanent contracts to that with temporary contracts on children's health using Korea Welfare Panel Study data. I find that parental job status changes to temporary contractual work from permanent contracts have a significantly negative effect on children's health. This outcome can be attributed to adverse financial shocks and a deterioration in mental health, which seem to outweigh the time reallocation effects.

Uneven Distribution of Socio-economic Status and Housing Outcomes in Depopulating Towns of Rural Korea

In the wake of demographic cliff, this research is a longitudinal study that examines socio-economic status and housing outcomes of households in depopulating towns of Jeolla and Gyeonngbuk Provinces, and figures out factors affecting their residential assessment. After 1,213 households were selected from two waves of Korea Welfare Panel Study, the statistical analysis revealed that most of the households were elderly couples headed by men aged over 70 with lower level of educational attainment, and owned a small-sized single-family-home with 3 bedrooms. Not surprisingly, the number of single elderly women between old-old and oldest-old age groups sharply increased, especially in Gyeonngbuk Province. where a sizable number of either substandard housing or houses with structural problems were identified, lowering housing satisfaction. While a vast majority of households suffered from digital isolation, a growing of number of households relied on social services, particularly cash transfer such as social security and medicaid. Further, the regression analysis indicated that overall satisfaction with rural settlement was largely influenced by satisfaction with housing and residential environment in its entirety. Thus, this research implies that since depopulating towns are mainly small and physically islolated, digital inclusion helps elderly residents to stay connected and adequately get in-home services.

Role of SES on the association between childhood parental death and adulthood suicidal ideation: a mediation analysis using longitudinal dataset in South Korea

BackgroundWe sought to examine the association between childhood experience of parental death (CEPD) and adulthood suicidal ideation, and the mediating role of adulthood SES in the association.MethodsWe analyzed a nationally representative dataset of 8609 adults from the Korea Welfare Panel Study, which is a longitudinal cohort dataset in South Korea. CEPD was measured using a question: “During your childhood (0-17 years old), have you experienced the death of parents?” We classified responses of CEPD during 2006–2011 into ‘yes,’ and the others into ‘no.’ Suicidal ideation over the past year was assessed annually during 2012–2019. As a potential mediator, adulthood educational attainment and household income in 2011 were included in the analysis. Logistic regression was applied to examine the association of CEPD with adulthood suicidal ideation across age groups (early adulthood, 19–39 years old; middle adulthood, 40–59 years old; late adulthood, ≥60 years old), after excluding people who reported lifetime suicidal ideation in 2011. Causal mediation analysis using a parametric regression model was applied to examine the mediating role of adulthood SES in the association between CEPD and adulthood suicidal ideation.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders including childhood SES, CEPD was significantly associated with adulthood suicidal ideation among the late adulthood group (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.13–1.81), while the association was not statistically significant among the early; and middle adulthood groups. In mediation analysis of adulthood household income, both indirect association (ORNIE: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.02–1.09) and direct association (ORNDE: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.09–1.73) were statistically significant among the late adulthood group. In the mediation analysis of adulthood education attainment among the late adulthood, only a direct association was statistically significant (ORNDE: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.14–1.80).ConclusionsThese results suggest that CEPD could be a risk factor for adulthood suicidal ideation. Furthermore, the findings imply that income security policy might be necessary to reduce suicide among the late adulthood group.

Mediating Effects of Depression in the Relationship between Self-esteem and Subjective Happiness of the Elderly Living Alone

본 연구에서는 독거노인의 자아존중감과 행복 간의 관계에서 우울이 미치는 매개효과를 검증하고자 한다. 이 연구는 한국복지패널(KOWEPS) 2019년 14차 조사자료를 활용하였고, 연구대상은 65세 이상 독거노인 1,522명이었다. 조사자료는 SPSS 25.0, Macro Process 3.5 (Model 4)를 사용하여 매개효과를 분석하였고, 그 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 자아존중감과 주관적 행복감은 유의한 정적 상관관계가, 자아존중감과 우울, 우울과 주관적 행복감은 각각 유의한 부적 상관관계가 나타났다. 둘째, 자아존중감은 주관적 행복감에 직접적으로 정적 영향을 미쳤다. 셋째, 독거노인의 자아존중감과 주관적 행복감 간의 관계에서 우울은 부분적인 매개효과가 있었다. 이러한 결과는 자아존중감 향상이 우울을 완화시켜 독거노인의 주관적 행복감을 높여줄 수 있음을 시사해 준다. 끝으로 연구의 제한점과 후속 연구를 위한 제언을 논의하였다.This study attempted to confirm the mediating effects of depression in the relationship between self-esteem and happiness of the elderly living alone. We utilized the 14th survey data which Korea Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS) investigated in 2019. The study participants were 1,522 elderly people who were living alone and over the age of 65. We analyzed this survey data by using SPSS 25.0 and PROCESS Macro 3.5(model 4), and the results are as follows. First, self-respect and subjective happiness were positively correlated, and self-esteem and depression, depression and subjective happiness showed negative and significant correlation, respectively. Second, self-esteem caused a direct and positive effect on subjective happiness. Third, depression had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between self-esteem and subjective happiness of old people living alone. Accordingly, these results indicate that the improvement of self-esteem can alleviate the level of depression and boast subjective happiness of the elderly living alone. Finally, the limitations of the study and suggestions for subsequent studies were discussed.

Changing Household and Housing Statuses in Shrinking Cities of Non-Seoul Metropolitan Area

This research is a longitudinal study that describes household and housing characteristics and examines changing households’ assessment on their residential environment by three distinctive groups of shrinking cities located in seven provinces of the non-Seoul Metropolitan Area-Gwandong-Hoseo area, Honam area, and Yongnam area, Using the 4th and 13th Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS), this study employed both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings show that many households in the nine-year period became older, more feminized, and smaller in size while a vast majority of them were home-owners. Although the housing outcomes among three areas were unvaried, the housing status in Honam area was largely improved, Obviously, a growing number of households used social services and most of them heavily depended on in-cash support and Medicaid. It’s noteworthy to witness increased satisfactions with job, housing and leisure out of seven domains of residential environment assessment in the studied period. While households in Honam area were satisfied with all seven components, those in Yongnam area were dissatisfied with health and income statuses. Further, the statistical analysis indicates that the assessment of overall residential environment was positively associated with all seven factors, of which social network and leisure became of significance.

Relationship between the living-alone period and depressive symptoms among the elderly

ObjectiveThe study aims to understand the relationship between the living-alone period and depressive symptoms among the elderly in South Korea. MethodsThe study obtained data on the elderly over 65 years old from the 2006 to 2019 Korea Welfare Panel Study. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis was performed to understand changes in depressive symptoms over periods of living alone. Additional subgroup analysis of age and gender was conducted to observe differences. ResultsA total 568 (19% of the study samples) elderly transitioned from living with others into a living-alone state. Males and females showed a significant increase in depressive symptoms as they started to live alone, which gradually decreased with prolonged periods of living alone. The result of the GEE analysis demonstrated high odds of depressive symptoms during the first (OR = 1.857; 95% CI: 1.492–2.310), second (OR = 1.414; 95% CI: 1.127–1.774), and third (OR = 1.413; 95% CI: 1.105–1.808) years of living alone compared with living with others. Regarding additional subgroup analysis, the female and old–old groups showed high odds of depressive symptoms in the first 3 years of living alone, whereas the male and young–old groups showed high odds for the first year only. ConclusionsThe study provides valuable insights into the relationship between the living-alone period and depressive symptoms among the elderly. Future research using the living-alone period on various social factors are recommended.

Associations between substandard housing and depression: insights from the Korea welfare panel study

BackgroundHousing is an important social determinant of health. Poor housing conditions are associated with a wide range of health conditions, including mental health. The study aimed to investigate the association between substandard housing and depression.MethodsWe used panel data collected by the Korea Welfare Panel Study and a sample drawn from waves 11 (2016) to 13 (2018). Substandard housing was defined via three criteria: the minimum residential area and number of rooms by application, essential facility standards, and environmental standards. Depression was measured with the CESD-11. A generalized estimating equation model was used to investigate associations between substandard housing and CESD-11 scores.ResultsParticipants living in substandard housing have higher depression scores (male: β = 0.63, female: β = 0.40) than participants who do not live in substandard housing. Participants who do not meet environmental standards have higher depression scores (male: β = 0.85, female: β = 0.66) than participants who do not live in substandard housing; the findings are seen in both men and women.ConclusionThis study identified an association between substandard housing and depression by gender, and the results were significant. We found that among the three criteria, environmental standards are most likely to be associated with depression. In practical terms, we should consider improving environmental factors of housing to mitigate mental health issues related to substandard housing.

The utility of walking assistive devices among people with mobility disabled

This study compared the utility of walking aids, and activities of daily life depending on the ability of people with mobility disabilities to use walking aids. Data were extracted from the Korea Welfare Panel Study in 2014. Data of 435,947 individuals were analyzed using chi-square and t-tests. The findings from this study showed that disabled persons who cannot use walking aids independently were more likely to have a severe disability level and a lower level of daily activities than the independent group. The level of social participation and leisure activities were also significantly lower in the dependent than the independent group. Therefore, walking aids should be tailored for individuals depending on their level of independence for using walking aids.

A Study on the Patterns of Panel Attrition in the Korea Welfare Panel Study

A Study on the Patterns of Panel Attrition in the Korea Welfare Panel Study

Gender-specific Trajectories of Maltreatment, School Engagement, and Delinquency: The Protective Role of School Engagement

ABSTRACT Despite the link between child maltreatment and delinquency has been well-established, relatively few studies have examined gender differences in the protective role of school factors that attenuates delinquency for adolescents who reported child maltreatment. This study aimed to examine gender-specific trajectories of child maltreatment, school engagement, and delinquency with a framework of life course perspectives. It also examined the protective role of school engagement trajectory on delinquency over time by gender. A total of 348 adolescents who reported maltreatment experiences in a nationally representative sample from the Korea Welfare Panel study with three waves was examined using latent growth models. The results revealed that males experienced neglect, physical and emotional abuse significantly more than females at baseline, but this significance disappeared as females’ experience increased with age. Being male decreased initial level of school engagement at baseline, which also increased initial level of delinquency, but being male increased the growth rate of school engagement over time, which also decreased the growth rate of delinquency. Females who experienced maltreatment rapidly dropped school engagement without increasing delinquency. Sexual abuse, neglect, and multiple types of maltreatment experiences also fit the model. Implication of the findings for females and males were different and discussed.

Health and Labor Market Outcomes Among Older Adults: Causal Evidence From Korean Panel Data and Dynamic Modeling

Health and work are two key determinants of economic insecurity and wellbeing. Since economic insecurity may rise with age due to the deterioration of health and work ability, it is essential to study the causal relationship between health and labor market outcomes among older people. In Korea, the size of the older population has grown rapidly in recent decades but the pension system remains limited in terms of its reach and generosity, leaving a considerable number of older people suffering from economic insecurity. To investigate the two-way causal links between health and labor market outcomes, we use unique data on middle-aged and older Koreans from 12 waves of the Korea Welfare Panel Study (2006-2017) and two dynamic modeling approaches: the Arellano-Bond Generalized Method of Moment Model (AB-GMM) and the Maximum Likelihood Structural Equation Model (ML-SEM). Results point at gender differences regarding the direction of the causal link between health and labor market outcomes. Men are more likely to be in good health due to higher income or paid work. Women are more likely to earn a higher income and to work as paid employees because of good health. These effects particularly hold for Koreans aged 55-74 in urban areas.

Employment Status Change and New-Onset Depressive Symptoms in Permanent Waged Workers.

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between changes in employment status and new-onset depressive symptoms through a one-year follow-up of permanent waged workers.MethodsWe analyzed the open-source data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study. Using the 2017 data, we selected 2,314 permanent waged workers aged 19 to 59 years without depressive symptoms as a base group. The final analysis targeted 2,073 workers who were followed up in 2018. In 2018, there were five categories of employment status for workers who were followed up: permanent, precarious, unemployed, self-employed, and economically inactive. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the association between employment status change and new-onset depressive symptoms.ResultsAdjusted multiple logistic regression analysis showed that among male workers, workers who went from permanent status to being unemployed (odds ratio: 4.50, 95% confidence interval: 1.19 to 17.06) and from permanent status to being precarious workers (odds ratio: 3.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.30 to 7.65) had significantly high levels of new-onset depressive symptoms compared with those who retained their permanent employment status. There were no significant increases in new-onset depressive symptoms of male workers who went from permanent status to being self-employed or economically inactive. On the other hand, no significant differences were found among female workers.ConclusionOur study suggests that the change of employment status to precarious workers or unemployment can cause new-onset depressive symptoms in male permanent waged workers.

중년기 빈곤 진입 후 지속기간이 우울을 매개로 음주에 미치는 영향: 한국복지패널을 이용한 종단연구

중년기 빈곤 진입 후 지속기간이 우울을 매개로 음주에 미치는 영향: 한국복지패널을 이용한 종단연구

Life Course Pathway to Later-Year Depressive Symptoms: Multiple Mediation of Socio-Economic Status and Coping Resources by Gender.

Drawing on a life course and stress process perspective, this study examined the pathway from childhood SES to later year depressive symptoms, focusing on multiple life course SES and coping resources in old age. Data came from the 2006 and 2015 waves of the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS). We selected respondents aged 51-55 in 2006 who were followed up when they were between 60 to 64 years of age in 2015. We merged the middle aged data in 2006 with the 2015 data when the respondents were 60-64 years of age (N = 687). Phantom modeling was used to examine a multiple mediation pathway and multi-group analyses were conducted to examine the gender differences in the pathway.For older men, satisfaction with social/leisure activities was a significant coping resource, while, for older women, satisfaction with family relations was important.

Factors influencing health care use by health insurance subscribers and medical aid beneficiaries: a study based on data from the Korea welfare panel study database

BackgroundThe use of health care services is influenced by various factors, including demographic, social, economic, and health status factors. This study aimed to identify the factors that influence health care use in health insurance subscribers and medical aid beneficiaries in Korea.MethodsA total of 11,793 subjects were identified, including 10,838 health insurance subscribers and 955 medical aid beneficiaries, using the Korea Welfare Panel Study database. The data were analysed by percentage, t-test, and multiple regression using SPSS 20.0.ResultsMedical aid beneficiaries had 13.51 more days of outpatient visits and 8.38 more days of hospitalization compared with health insurance subscribers. Factors affecting the frequency of outpatient visits for health insurance subscribers were gender, age, household type, education level, income level, administrative district, perceived health status, chronic disease, and disability. These factors accounted for 19.8% of explanation (p < .001). Whereas, gender, household type, administrative district, perceived health status, and chronic disease were identified as factors influencing outpatient frequency for medical aid beneficiaries. These factors accounted for 11.2% of explanation (p < .001). For health insurance subscribers, factors affecting the length of hospitalization were gender, public pension status, place of residence, administrative district, economic activity, income level, perceived health status, and disability status. These factors accounted for 7.2% of explanation (p < .001). While, factors affecting the length of hospitalization for medical aid beneficiaries were accounted for by 3.4% (p < .001). Gender and perceived health status were identified as factors influencing the length of hospitalization of medical aid beneficiaries.ConclusionsThere were differences between medical aid beneficiaries and health insurance subscribers in health care use and influencing factors. Future management programs should take into consideration the specific factors that influence the use of health care services in health insurance subscribers and medical aid beneficiaries.

The Association Between the Basic Old-Age Pension and Depression of the Older Adults in Korea.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the Basic Old-Age Pension (BOP), which is a noncontributory pension, and depression in BOP beneficiaries in Korea.MethodsWe used the second and third waves (2007-2008) of the Korea Welfare Panel Study to identify the effect of the BOP on mental health in the year of its introduction. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, applied in a Korean context, was used to evaluate mental health. To analyze the effect of the BOP, a difference-in-difference approach was used in analyses of all subjects and subgroups.ResultsFor this study population of 760 adults, the BOP did not have a statistically significant relationship with depression in its beneficiaries. After controlling for type of household, the BOP was still not associated with lower reporting of depression, either in single-beneficiary or double-beneficiary households, in the year of the benefit.ConclusionsThe BOP policy had no significant relationship with the level of depression among recipients. However, this should not be interpreted as implying that income subsidy programs for older adults, such as the BOP, do not affect mental health, considering the importance of economic hardship in this population and the program’s socioeconomic effects.

Revisiting the relationship among housing tenure, affordability and mental health: Do dwelling conditions matter?

Despite growing attention to housing as a social determinant of health, few studies have featured the interplay of its diverse impacts on health. Using the Korea Welfare Panel Study, this study used logistic regression analysis for examining how housing tenure and affordability are associated with depressive symptoms under different physical dwelling conditions among low-income households in Korea. In our findings, renters, compared with homeowners, were more likely to report depressive symptoms, and housing unaffordability was associated with a higher likelihood of having depressive symptoms. When dwelling conditions were considered, housing tenancy, compared with ownership, tended to be associated with depressive symptoms among adequate housing dwellers, whereas housing unaffordability was associated with depressive symptoms mainly among those living in substandard housing conditions. The findings suggest that the linkage of multiple housing problems to psychological well-being is dynamic. Public health policies and housing subsidy programs should, therefore, be designed based on a comprehensive account of not only tenure or income status, but also dwelling conditions.

A Comparative Analysis of Proxy- and Self-Reported Child Health: Case of Korea Welfare Panel Study

A Comparative Analysis of Proxy- and Self-Reported Child Health: Case of Korea Welfare Panel Study

Gender Difference in Longitudinal Social and Personal Factors Related to Frequency of Alcohol Consumption of South Korean Adults: A Fixed-Effects Model.

The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal social and personal factors related to frequency of alcohol consumption by South Korean adults focused on comparisons between men and women. Data came from the 2005-2016 Korea Welfare Panel Study. A fixed-effects model was used to examine the longitudinal correlations between dependent and independent variables. According to the present results, first, life satisfaction except for health satisfaction and marital status were not associated with alcohol consumption patterns by men. On the other hand, higher frequency of alcohol consumption by women was negatively associated with various life satisfaction variables and being married. Second, income levels were positively associated with higher frequency of alcohol consumption by men, whereas income levels were not associated with alcohol consumption by women. Finally, being employed was positively associated with higher frequency of alcohol consumption by both men and women. In conclusion, there were gender differences in how alcohol consumption was influenced by various sociocultural and life satisfaction factors in South Korea.