Factors Related to the Life Satisfaction of Elderly Baby Boomers: An Analysis of the 2020 Korean National Survey of Elderly

Life satisfaction is a measure of an individual's emotional contentment with their current state and lifestyle. It acts as a barometer for the outcome of interactions between social factors and members of society, embodying "the cumulative satisfaction that renders an individual's life valuable and rewarding" [1]. Life satisfaction is a subjective and cognitive appraisal of one's quality of life and is regarded as a crucial indicator of well-being. It is a judgment, largely cognitive and subjective, of one's current life circumstances in relation to one's expectations [2].

In South Korea, the life satisfaction score for older adults (60 years and above) was reported to be 6.1 out of 10, which was lower than the OECD average of 6.7. Among all age groups, individuals in their 60s reported the lowest life satisfaction [3]. While regions such as East Asia, North America, and Oceania exhibit a "U-shape" in life satisfaction-high in youth, low in middle age, and slightly increasing in old age-in South Korea, life satisfaction tends to decrease with age [4]. Deteriorating physical health due to aging, reduced economic income, loss of social connections, and emotional challenges can all contribute to a decrease in life satisfaction in older age [5]. Notably, lower life satisfaction in older adults correlates with more severe feelings of loneliness and depression, which can heighten suicidal thoughts and increase the likelihood of giving up on life [6].

In South Korea, the term "baby boomer generation" refers to roughly 7.13 million individuals born between 1955 and 1963, following the Korean War. This group constitutes 14.6% of the total population [7] and represents a substantial segment of the elderly demographic. Those born in 1955 joined the ranks of the elderly in 2020, and it is projected that each year until 2028, between 690,000 to 920,000 baby boomers will transition into this age category [3]. In Australia, this generation is metaphorically referred to as "a pig in a python", signifying the societal adjustments required to accommodate the influx of baby boomers advancing through various life stages [8]. Conversely, South Korea's baby boomer generation has often been described as the "sandwich generation", indicative of their role in supporting both their parents and their children. This generation often lacks sufficient resources and preparation for their later years due to financial responsibilities towards their parents and children, and they are widely seen as the generation that made personal sacrifices for South Korea's economic growth and social development [9]. Economically, a gap of approximately 5-10 years exists between their retirement and their eligibility for a national pension [9]. Furthermore, baby boomers, transitioning from middle age to old age and experiencing a decline in social, psychological, and physical health, are at the forefront of rapid aging. Given the significant number of baby boomers and their undeniable influence on society, culture, and economy, research focusing on this demographic is of paramount importance [9]. Hence, to truly understand the lived experiences of baby boomers and to develop practical interventions, emphasis should be placed on assessing the qualitative aspects of their lives, particularly their subjective life satisfaction [10]. An Australian study on healthy aging and quality of life among baby boomers found that maintaining physical and mental health and independence, along with intellectual stimulation such as education, were pivotal for quality of life [8]. Another study examining the transition to retirement for baby boomers found that health status, economic activity, and childhood circumstances significantly impacted the quality of life in older adults [11].

Previous research suggests that factors influencing the life satisfaction of older adults can be categorized into sociodemographic, health-related, and social characteristics [10, 12]. Within sociodemographic factors, most studies found that female older adults and those with a spouse reported higher life satisfaction [12, 13]. Education level yielded inconsistent results; one study indicated that a higher education level corresponded to greater life satisfaction [14], while another suggested the opposite [15]. Regarding health-related factors, the general trend was that fewer diseases and a better subjective health status were associated with a higher quality of life [12]. Additionally, depressive symptoms, which affect approximately 15~25% of South Korea's elderly population, were identified as factors reducing life satisfaction [16]. Most of the social factors suggested that increased social participation correlated with better social networks and higher life satisfaction [17]. Income, economic hardships, and absolute deprivation [9] have also been highlighted in studies as factors influencing life satisfaction.

Digital literacy has emerged as another key factor influencing quality of life. The swift advancement towards digital informatization and smartization have inadvertently marginalized the elderly population, rendering them digitally disadvantaged [18]. This digital divide not only discourages older adults from using digital devices but also negatively impacts their quality of life, economic activities, and social engagement [19]. Particularly for the baby boomer generation, which is expected to have superior information access and capabilities compared to the previous generation of older adults [18], it is crucial to examine their digital competency. This includes understanding their utilization of digital devices, any difficulties they may experience with device use, and how these elements affect their overall life satisfaction.

Both domestic and international studies on older adults' life satisfaction have focused on the baby boomer generation prior to their transition into old age. Given potential differences in sociodemographic, health-related, and socioeconomic characteristics between the previous generation of elderly people and the current elderly population, which includes baby boomers, there is a need to identify the life satisfaction of baby boomers as they age. This study's goal was to explore and analyze the characteristics of baby boomers who were born in 1955 and turned 65 in 2020. The findings from this study will be instrumental in identifying factors that can enhance life satisfaction for future generations of older adults.

The objective of this study was to examine the degree of life satisfaction and identify factors that influenced it among baby boomer older adults who were born in 1955 and reached the age of 65 in 2020. This was achieved by utilizing data from the 2020 Korean National Survey of Elderly, specifically focusing on respondents aged 65 years.

The baby boomer generation, emblematic of an era, is now transitioning into old age. Over the next decade, it is this cohort, the baby boomers, who will be aging and subsequently leading South Korea into a super-aged society. As such, this study sought to identify the factors influencing the life satisfaction of baby boomers, a sociodemographic that may have differing factors compared to previous generations of older adults.

The average life satisfaction score for baby boomer older adults was 26.11 points, or 68.26 points on a 100-point scale, indicating a leaning more towards satisfaction than dissatisfaction. In a study that analyzed 4,698 older adults (ranging from 65~69 years [n=1,042, 22.2%], 70~79 years [n=2,325, 49.5%], to 80 years or older [n=67, 17.0%]; average age=73.6 years) who participated in the 12th Korea Welfare Panel Study (2017), the mean score for life satisfaction among older adults was 3.23 out of 5 points (SD, 0.52) [22]. Meanwhile, Choi and Lee [23] examined the life satisfaction of 393 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older (in their 60s [n=106, 27.0%], in their 70s [n=220, 56.0%], in their 80s [n=67, 17.0%]; average age= 73.6 years) using the Satisfaction with Life Scale developed by Diener et al. [24]. They reported a score of 4.41 out of 5 points (SD, 1.20), reflecting a level of satisfaction that was moderate and slightly above the median value of 4 points. Given that previous studies on older adults' life satisfaction included a varied age range from the 60s to the 80s and utilized different life satisfaction measurement tools, it becomes challenging to make precise objective comparisons. However, all results were above the median, mirroring the findings of this study, and indicating no significant difference between this study and prior research. This similarity may be due to the participants being conveniently sampled from accessible institutions like welfare centers, suggesting that the older adults sampled likely had relatively better physical health status and social activity levels.

Among the sociodemographic characteristics examined, having a spouse and a higher level of education significantly influenced life satisfaction. Older adults with a spouse reported higher life satisfaction compared to their single counterparts. This finding aligns with a 2016 study [13] that surveyed 2,509 older adults aged 65 or older who were living alone. The study, utilizing data from the 2014 Korean National Survey of Elderly, concluded that having a spouse was associated with higher life satisfaction (mean age: 74.6 years for men and 75.8 years for women). As Jeong et al. [25] speculated about the family and elderly life of baby boomers, this group is less likely to anticipate support from their children in old age due to urbanization, improved education levels, and the prevalence of nuclear families. Thus, a strong spousal relationship appears to play a crucial role in elderly life. Furthermore, our study corroborated previous research [26] suggesting that higher education levels correlate with higher life satisfaction. Both domestic and international studies [12, 27, 28] have shown that older adults with a higher level of education tend to experience higher life satisfaction. A study [12] analyzing factors influencing life satisfaction in older adults, using five years of data from the Korean National Survey of Elderly (1994, 2004, 2008, 2011, and 2014), found that those with a higher education level reported higher life satisfaction in all years except 1994. Given that this study also found that a higher education level positively impacted life satisfaction in baby boomers, it is plausible that this cohort might experience higher life satisfaction due to their generally higher education levels compared to previous generations. Consequently, considering the positive influence of education on life satisfaction, it might be worth developing policies that consider education levels in life satisfaction improvement programs, and providing opportunities for lifelong learning.

Regarding health-related characteristics, older adults with better subjective health status and those without a history of suicidal thoughts after the age of 60 reported higher life satisfaction. These results echo numerous domestic and international studies [12, 23, 29] indicating that older adults with a positive assessment of their own health status enjoy higher life satisfaction. Additionally, our findings align with many studies showing that older adults who experienced suicidal thoughts after the age of 60 have lower life satisfaction than those who did not. In a study by Kwon [30], suicidal thoughts and ideation were found to be significant factors influencing the quality of life in older adults, with those experiencing such thoughts reporting a lower quality of life. This may be attributed to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness among older adults due to physical factors such as chronic diseases or emotional factors like depression, leading to suicidal thoughts and a decrease in life satisfaction [30]. Our study's finding that quality of life was significantly influenced by subjective health status and the experience of suicidal thoughts, both related to mental health, aligns with a study [27] showing that mental health substantially affects quality of life. Therefore, to maintain life satisfaction, it is vital to identify and mitigate the causes of suicidal thoughts among older adults. There is also a need to develop community-centered programs, such as suicide prevention projects for older adults.

Among social activities and environmental characteristics, factors such as the use of smartphones or tablets, the degree of social respect for older adults, and the perception of a good death significantly influenced life satisfaction. This is in line with a previous study that found the use of information and communication technology to positively impact life satisfaction in old age [31]; older adults who used smartphones or tablets reported higher life satisfaction than those who did not. This result aligns with research by Kim and Jun [31], which demonstrated that smartphone usage positively affected older adults' life satisfaction, with information and communication technologies like smartphones directly enhancing their life satisfaction. Consequently, to maintain and improve the life satisfaction of older adults, expanding the use of information and communication technologies such as smartphones is necessary. This would require active societal attention and support to boost the level of digital literacy among older adults. In addition, older adults who felt socially respected reported higher life satisfaction. Social support positively impacts older adults' life satisfaction [31]. Those who feel disrespected and experience social exclusion are less likely to engage actively in social activities and more likely to isolate themselves at home [32]. If this situation persists, it inevitably exerts a negative impact on life satisfaction. Thus, efforts to foster social respect for older adults and mitigate or resolve social exclusion are crucial. Finally, older adults who deemed a good death as important reported higher life satisfaction. Lee and Choi [32] found that individuals with higher life satisfaction were more prepared for death. The more people prepare for death, the more they contemplate the conditions for a good death. As such, it might be necessary for relevant organizations or communities to develop and provide diverse educational programs to enhance older adults' preparation for death.

In the hierarchical regression analysis, having a spouse and subjective health status were the factors that exerted the greatest influence on older adults' life satisfaction. Previous research found that life satisfaction in older individuals increased with more contact with their children and increased perception of positive support [33]. Another study reported that better health status in older adults was associated with increased family support, which positively influenced older adults' life satisfaction [22]. These findings suggest that despite the diminished role of the family due to decreased communication and bonds in the era of the nuclear family, family support remains crucial for older adults [22]. The focus of the family appears to shift towards the importance of the spouse, coinciding with the trend towards nuclear families and the increasing independence of children. This shift may affect the subjective health status of older adults, thereby influencing their life satisfaction. In a study by Park [34], older adults who lived apart from their children and those who had a spouse at younger ages reported higher levels of successful aging compared to their counterparts. In other words, while previous generations of older individuals were dependent on their children, baby boomer older adults tend to be more independent, with the importance of a spouse relatively high, which appears to influence life satisfaction.

This study does have certain limitations. Firstly, as this research was a secondary analysis, it was not possible to investigate participation in regular meetings or religious activities, which are commonly evaluated variables in social activities. Secondly, as this was a cross-sectional study, it was challenging to establish clear causal relationships. Given that this study utilized data from the Korean National Survey of Elderly as the measure for life satisfaction, it was difficult to compare objective values with various studies that used common measures of older adults' life satisfaction. Furthermore, changes in survey items for life satisfaction in the Korean National Survey of Elderly across different rounds make the comparison of precise values challenging unless the values within the same round are compared. Thirdly, the study sample was limited to older adults aged 65 years, born in 1955, which does not fully represent the entire baby boomer generation. Therefore, it was difficult to interpret the differences in this study as being reflective of differences from the entire population of older individuals from previous generations. Now that the baby boomer generation has entered old age, there is a need for longitudinal studies, such as cohort studies that compare and analyze the baby boomer generation after becoming older adults with former older people. Lastly, factors influencing the life satisfaction of baby boomer older adults were found to be similar to those of older people from previous generations. This might be due to the fact that the social atmosphere did not change abruptly, and they lived concurrently in an era of change, which did not present clear differences from the preceding generation. However, as old age expands, studies seem necessary to compare baby boomer older adults with older adults aged 75 years or older, or even super-aged older adults aged 80 years or older, or 85 years or older.

In this study, we analyzed the life satisfaction of baby boomer older adults using data from 605 older adults aged 65 years in the 2020 Korean National Survey of Elderly. The average score of life satisfaction was 68.26 points on a 100-point scale, which did not show a significant difference from that of older individuals from previous generations. In the hierarchical regression analysis, factors such as having a spouse, education level, subjective health status, experience of suicidal thoughts after the age of 60, use of smartphones or tablets, degree of social respect for older adults, and readiness for death were found to significantly influence life satisfaction. The overall explanatory power of these variables for life satisfaction was 57.5%.

Based on the findings of this study, given that the life satisfaction of older adults can change with age, longitudinal studies are necessary to understand the trends of changes in life satisfaction. Further studies are also needed, including variables such as participation in regular meetings or religious activities. Moreover, as the length of old age increases, it is important to identify differences in life satisfaction by age group by further dividing these groups. It is also essential to develop policies and programs that enhance the life satisfaction of older adults, taking into consideration factors that influence life satisfaction.