Trajectory of Family Relationship Satisfaction and the Influence of Self-esteem in Middle-aged Adults through Latent Growth Modeling

The study aimed to explore the trajectory of family relationship satisfaction among middleaged adults and examine the effect of the self-esteem variable on the trajectory.A latent growth model analysis was conducted with data from 3,704 middle-aged adults aged 40 to 55 in 2014, selected from the 9th, 12th, 15th, and 18th waves (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023) of the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS).The results showed that family relationship satisfaction among middle-aged adults increased linearly over time, which can be explained by self-esteem.Furthermore, the study found that income, residential area, education level, and self-esteem significantly influenced family relationship satisfaction.Higher initial family relationship satisfaction was observed in ordinary household members, non-metropolitan residents, those with higher education levels, and those with higher self-esteem.In addition, the rate of increase was more stable for ordinary household members compared to low-income household members and for those with higher self-esteem.This study is significant in exploring the variables influencing the changes in family relationship satisfaction among middle-aged Korean adults, which can predict an individual's life satisfaction and the stability of their future elderly life.This exploration offers valuable insights into ensuring a stable and satisfying life in old age.