Factors Affecting Transitions in Living Arrangements among Elders in Korea

노년기 거주형태의 변화와 영향요인에 관한 종단연구

This research examines the degree and the patterns of living arrangement transitions and analyzes the factors affecting transitions in living arrangement among elders in Korea. Data came from four-wave panel study of Hallym Aging Research Institute. The first wave was conducted in 2003, and each successive wave occurred exactly 2 years after. Respondents who were aged 60 and over, and had at least one living child were selected for this research. The baseline consisted of 1,907 respondents(2003), then became 985 for the fourth transition interval (2009). A total of 825 who participated both in 2003 and 2009 were used. Binomial logit regression analyses were used to analyze the effects of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, physical health, cognitive function, psychological well-being, and cultural attitudes toward elder care on transitions in living arrangements. Results show that 29.82% of the elders made transitions in living arrangements from 2003 to 2009, indicating remarkably unstable living situation over this time period. The ratio of living alone is increased from 17.6% to 19.6%, in contrast with decreased ratio of living with married children from 30.5% to 25.2%, and that of living with unmarried children from 19.9% to 13.7%. Factors affecting transitions in living arrangement were different according to types of living arrangement. Elders living with married children were more likely to be older, widowed and to have higher level of psychological well-being and more traditional attitude toward elder care. Elders living alone were more likely to be women, widowed, and to have more chronic diseases and lower level of psychological well-being.

본 연구의 목적은 노년기에 경험하는 다양한 거주형태 변화와 그 정도를 파악하고, 노인거주형태별 영향요인을 검증하는데 있다. 조사대상자는 한림대학교 고령사회연구소의 고령자패널조사 자료 중 2003년과 2009년 조사에 모두 참여한 60세 이상 유자녀 노인 825명이다. 분석 방법은 T2(2009년)의 거주형태를 종속변수로, T1(2003년)의 인구사회학적 변인, 신체적 정신적 건강상태, 문화적 변인을 독립변수로 하여 이항로지스틱 회귀분석을 실시하였다. 연구결과로 첫째, 2003~2009년 6년 동안 거주형태 변화를 경험한 노인이 29.82%에 달해 노년기 거주형태가 매우 불안정한 것으로 파악되었다. 둘째, 노인 거주형태를 결정하는 주요 요인으로 성별, 연령, 배우자유무, 주택소유여부, 주관적 건강상태, 심리적 안녕감, 부양책임감 등이 도출되었으며, 각 거주형태별로 영향요인이 다르게 나타났다. 제언으로 노년기 거주형태의 변화가 매우 크고 다양하게 이루어지는 만큼 반복적이고 지속적인 연구가 진행되어야 함을 제시하였다.