Inequality persists: Trajectories of social exclusion from middle age to old age

This study investigates social exclusion trajectories over time, utilizing data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging administered by the Korea Employment Information Service. Focused on individuals aged 45 to 52 at the study's onset, predominantly representing the Korean baby boom generation, our analysis encompasses 1,549 cases examining changes in social exclusion over a 14-year period from 2006(wave 1) to 2020(wave 8). Employing a group-based multi-trajectory model, we identified four distinct groups: the low exclusion persistence group, the high economic/housing exclusion persistence group, the high health/employment exclusion persistence group, and the high exclusion persistence group. Across these trajectory groups, a persistent trend of social exclusion from midlife into old age is evident. Gender, marital status, and education were identified as critical factors differentiating these groups. The findings underscore the exacerbation of inequities as individuals age, highlighting the necessity of a life-course perspective in addressing social inequality.