Physical Mobility and Life Satisfaction Among Urban Older Adults During Covid-19 Pandemic: Multiple Mediating Effects on Social Participation and Depression

Purpose: Life satisfaction, a key component of subjective well-being, is closely associated with successful aging and health in older adults. This study examined the effects of physical mobility on life satisfaction and investigated whether social participation and depression mediate this relationship among community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021 among 245 older adults aged 65 or older in urban South Korea. Standardized tools assessed physical mobility, social participation, depression, and life satisfaction. Correlation analyses and multiple mediation models using PROCESS macro v4.1 were employed. Results: Physical mobility (r=.25, p<.001) and social participation (r=.18, p<.001) exhibited statistically significant positive correlations with life satisfaction. Conversely, depression (r=-.61, p<.001) was negatively correlated with life satisfaction. Notably, physical mobility did not directly influence life satisfaction; rather, its effect was mediated through increased social participation and reduced depression (B=0.01, bootstrap 95% CI: 0.00-0.02). Conclusion: These findings underscore the need for comprehensive approaches that integrate physical, social, and mental health strategies to enhance life satisfaction in older adults—particularly in times of societal disruption such as COVID-19 pandemic.