Tapgol Park, located in central Seoul, is a popular destination for local seniors. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Middle-aged individuals living alone are less satisfied with their lives than those who live with family members.
Professor Hong Seong-pyo from the Catholic University of Korea and professor Lim Han-ryeo from Seoul National University conducted a survey of 1,378 middle-aged, single-person households over 40 years of age and 6,382 middle-aged, multi-person households to track the changes in life satisfaction levels from 2017 to 2020.
The life satisfaction levels among middle-aged, single-person households went from 3.42 in 2017 to 3.44 in 2018, 3.43 in 2019 and 3.36 in 2020.
Over the same period, the life satisfaction levels among middle-aged, multi-person households also dropped from 3.61 to 3.60, 3.60, and 3.56.
“The drop reflects the characteristics of the middle-aged generation that begins to face the risk of their spouse’s death, fewer social activities, deteriorating health, and a rising poverty rate,” the research team said.
The single-person households, in particular, lacked family relationships, further emphasizing the life satisfaction levels of those living with their family.
Factors that impact the life satisfaction levels of middle-aged individuals included gender, income, age (40 to 64), self-esteem, and depression.
These factors affected all single-person and multi-person households. Life satisfaction levels were exceptionally low among low-income, male, middle-aged, depressed individuals.
“The younger generation choosing to live alone for employment and education has a different experience in their lives from middle-aged, single-person households, most of which arise from the death of their spouse or divorce, or unemployment,” the research team said.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
