Associations of multidimensional frailty with life satisfaction in older men: a latent class approach

Background: Frailty, encompassing physical, psychological and social vulnerabilities, significantly affects life satisfaction in older men. However, intra-gender differences in frailty remain underexplored. This study aims to classify frailty subtypes among older men and examine their associations with life satisfaction. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2023 National Survey of Older Koreans (N = 3824 men aged 65+). Latent Class Analysis (LCA) identified frailty subtypes, and multiple regression analysis examined their associations with life satisfaction while controlling for key demographic factors. Results: Four frailty subtypes were identified: Physically Frail and Socially Discontent (PFSD), Robust and Socially Satisfied (RSS), Robust but Socially Isolated (RSI), and Moderately Frail and Socially Adequate (MFSA). The RSS group reported the highest level of life satisfaction, while all other subtypes showed significantly lower levels. Notably, the RSI group, despite good physical health, reported lower life satisfaction than the MFSA group, highlighting that social isolation may outweigh physical health advantages in determining life satisfaction. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for integrated interventions that address physical, psychological and social well-being to enhance life satisfaction among older men.