A Study on the Relationship between Older Adults’ Health Status and Life Satisfaction: An Analysis of the Mediating Effect of Social Activities Using Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling

Objective : The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of social activities in the relationship between the health status of the elderly (self-rated health and physical health measures) and life satisfaction, and to provide policy implications for improving life satisfaction among the elderly. Methods : The analysis was conducted using data from the first to ninth waves of the Aging Research Panel, with respondents aged 65 and older selected for the study. The analysis method employed was the Multilevel Structural Equation Model(MLSEM), which is useful for analyzing the structural relationships of the mediating variables included in the research model. Results : The analysis results showed that higher self-rated health (B=5.646, S.E=0.096, p<.001) and higher physical health measures (B=0.226, S.E=0.009, p<.001) among the elderly were associated with greater life satisfaction. The indirect effect of social activities between self-rated health and life satisfaction was B=0.129 (S.E=0.015, p<.001), and the indirect effect of social activities between physical health measures and life satisfaction was B=0.013 (S.E=0.002, p<.001). These findings confirm that social activities serve as a partial mediating factor in the relationship between self-rated health, physical health measures, and life satisfaction among the elderly. Conclusion : To enhance life satisfaction among older adults, it is essential to regularly monitor their self-rated health and promote the activation of social activities. For this purpose, it is necessary to establish public community infrastructure that provides equal opportunities for social engagement, regardless of individual characteristics such as household composition, health status, disability level, income, education, and region. Furthermore, the development of social services that facilitate participation in various social activities is crucial to enable older adults to engage meaningfully in their communities.