The Impact of Social Capital on Life Satisfaction of Elderly People : Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Information Technology Acceptance

This study analyzes the impact of social capital on life satisfaction among the elderly in Korea and empirically verifies the mediating effect of information technology(IT) acceptance in the relationship between social capital and life satisfaction. The analysis utilized data from the 2022 Digital Divide Survey conducted by the National Information Society Agency(NIA), focusing on individuals aged 65 and older. The mediation effect analysis was conducted using bootstrapping methods with IBM SPSS 24.0 and Hayes'(2018) SPSS Process Macro. The results revealed several key findings. First, higher levels of social capital among the elderly were associated with increased life satisfaction. Second, social capital was positively correlated with IT acceptance. Third, the mediating effect of IT acceptance in the relationship between social capital and life satisfaction was statistically significant. These findings suggest that to enhance life satisfaction among the elderly, it is essential to implement policies that not only increase social capital but also improve IT acceptance. In Korea, where the aging population is growing rapidly, the results indicate that policies focused on IT education and accessibility for the elderly can significantly improve their quality of life.