Self-perceptions of aging in Korean older adults: a latent profile analysis

Abstract Background Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are multidimensional and have been consistently associated with mental health and quality of life in later life. However, most prior research has relied on variable-centered approaches that treat SPA as a single positive-negative continuum, potentially obscuring heterogeneity among older adults. Methods Using latent profile analysis, we examined whether there were meaningful latent profiles of SPA in a sample of South Korean older adults aged 60 years and above. In addition, we investigated whether these profiles would differ based on overall attitudes toward aging, depressive symptoms, and quality of life. Results The results revealed three latent profiles: Resilient Aging (RA), Moderate Aging (MA), and Vulnerable Aging (VA). The RA profile exhibited the most positive SPA, lowest depressive symptoms, and highest quality of life, whereas the VA profile demonstrated negative SPA, higher depressive symptoms, and lower quality of life. The MA profile showed an intermediate pattern across all measures. Conclusion These findings highlight the heterogeneity of SPA and suggest that multidimensional patterns of aging perceptions may be relevant to psychological well-being in later life. Future longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to determine whether these patterns have utility for clinical assessment and whether interventions targeting aging-related beliefs and emotional responses can improve psychological outcomes.