• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.133-147
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• 2010

This study aimed to identify the dimensions of successful aging, as perceived by elderly Koreans, and to test qualitatively the elders' optimization of selection and compensation strategies in a social activity context. The results were as follows: First, the most important part of life fulfillment and regret was family and work. Second, social activity played a role in self-actualization and physiological needs. Moreover, it contributed to the elders' physical and mental health maintenance. Third, the elderly effectively participated in social activities by optimizing their selection and compensation strategies. Fourth, the elderly realized they are growing old, but considered it as a natural process. In addition, some participants suggested retirement age should be raised, but others were against this idea. Finally, elders thought successful aging means having a sufficient and independent life in old age. Thus, the elderly required good health, economic security, and a positive attitude for aging successfully.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.43-54
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of perceived care-related burden and social support on life satisfaction and the moderating effect of social support from elderly spouses caring for their elderly partners with dementia. The subjects were 165 spouses aged over 60 years, caring for their elderly partners afflicted with dementia, and living in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The analysis results are as follows: First, the quantified total care-related burden shouldered by the participant spouses was 3.76 points (SD = .57), which was slightly higher than the median value. In the case of social support, informal support was scored 2.65 (SD = .78), and formal support was scored 2.60 (SD = .77), which was lower than the median value. Life satisfaction earned a score of 3.11 points (SD = .78), which somewhat exceeded the median. Second, subjective health status, income level, burden from social activity, and informal support influenced life satisfaction. Put differently, the higher the subjective health status of a caring spouse, the higher the income level, the lower the social activity burden, the stronger the informal support, and the greater the life satisfaction. Third, the interaction terms of social activity burden and informal support were significant. Therefore, informal support had a moderating effect on the relationship between social activity burden and life satisfaction among the elderly with dementia. In other words, even though the caring spouses experienced a burden from social activities, the higher the frequency with which they accessed informal support, the lower the decrease in life satisfaction.

• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.871-889
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• 2018

This study aims to explore social participation needs among the elderly in Korea from the perspective of the elderly participant's. 40 Q-samples are drawn from the Q-population including attitudes and needs toward social participation in later life based on news articles, essays, research, documentary, and television shows. 35 subjects are analysed by the QUANL program and the types of social participation needs are divided into four patterns which accounted for 60.16% of the total variance. The elderly's portrayal of an ideal social participation is about making independent decisions and being able to actively participate in the activities they chose to do. However, their most undesirable scenario would be being confused and uncertain of what they should do the remainder of their lives. The needs of social participation among the elderly varies on four indicators such as ego, social capital, life satisfaction, life vitality and these four indicators have two sub-categories with a total of 8 types of classification. These 8 types differ by priorities, adaptation to life changes, motivation to social participation, and desired activity. Findings suggest that researchers and policy makers need to consider service user perspective on social participation in later life, not service provider perspective.