Analysis of Elderly Leisure Activities by Urban Size: Focusing on Leisure Expenditure, Leisure Satisfaction, and Perceived Health Status

Objective : This study aims to systematically analyze the relationships between urban size and the leisure expenditure, overall leisure satisfaction, perceived health status, and perceived happiness levels of the elderly. Methods : The research was conducted using a cross-sectional secondary analysis of the 2022 National Leisure Activity Survey data, targeting 5,030 elderly individuals aged 50 and over. Participants were categorized based on their residential area size, including metropolitan areas, small and medium-sized cities, and rural areas. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were employed to analyze the differences in leisure expenditure, overall leisure satisfaction, perceived health status, and perceived happiness levels according to urban size. Additionally, Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlations among these variables. Results : The findings revealed that elderly individuals residing in metropolitan areas spent more on leisure activities and reported higher levels of overall leisure satisfaction, perceived health status, and perceived happiness compared to those living in small and medium-sized cities and rural areas. Significant correlations were observed between urban size and these variables, with values decreasing as the urban size decreased. Conclusion : This study confirms that substantial differences exist in the leisure lives of the elderly based on urban size, which may also impact their overall quality of life. Therefore, the development of tailored leisure programs and policy support that consider the characteristics of each region is necessary to promote the health and well-being of the elderly.