The Moderating Role of Social Activity on Age Norms and Subjective Health Status of Older Adults: A Two-Stage Cluster Korea National Survey

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine how social activity (SA) moderates the relationship between age norms (AN) and subjective health status (SHS) among older adults in Korea. Based on the theories of age-integrated structure and active aging, the proposed hypotheses were that SHS has a positive association with attitudes towards AN, and with the interactions between different types of AN and SA. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from a Korean national survey of older adults were analyzed. Participants were older adults N = 10,451, of whom 10,280 were used in the study sample. Multivariate linear regression including interaction terms, was used to examine the associations among SHS, AN, and SA. RESULTS: The results of multivariate linear regression examining learning (ß = 0.066, p < 0.001), working (ß = 0.063, p < 0.001), and remarriage (ß = 0.036, p < 0.001) showed that those who perceived AN more positively, were more likely to have a high SHS. With interaction terms, those who had a positive attitude towards AN for learning and volunteering (ß = 0.025, p < 0.05), and remarriage and engaged in friendship groups (ß = 0.032, p < 0.05) were more likely to have a high SHS. CONCLUSION: SA serves as a great moderator between AN and SHS.

Objetivos vitales en jóvenes y en adultos mayores sanos y con enfermedades crónicas / Life Goals in Young People and Healthy and Chronically Ill Older People / Objetivos vitais em jovens e idosos saudáveis e com doenças crónicas

Objetivo. Este estudio pretende explorar los objetivos vitales en diferentes momentos de la vida y determinar la influencia de la edad y el estado de salud en ellos. Método. En un estudio transversal se compararon tres muestras de voluntarios: una de jóvenes (78 participantes), una de mayores activos (67 participantes) y una de mayores con enfermedades crónicas (65 personas). Los objetivos vitales se obtuvieron mediante una pregunta abierta, cuyas respuestas fueron sometidas a un análisis de contenido. Resultados. Los objetivos vitales fueron similares para mayores sanos y con enfermedades crónicas, con un predominio de objetivos centrados en la salud y una orientación hacia el mantenimiento. En cambio, en los jóvenes la mayoría de objetivos tuvo que ver con el desarrollo y la obtención de nuevas ganancias. Entre los mayores, ni la edad, ni el estado de salud predijeron de manera significativa la probabilidad de mencionar objetivos centrados en la salud. Conclusión. Los resultados sugieren que las expectativas de edad tienen una influencia mayor que las circunstancias de salud concretas en la determinación de los objetivos vitales.

Objective. This study is aimed at exploring life goals in different life stages and determining the influence of age and health status on these goals. Method. Using a cross sectional study, vital goals were explored in three different samples of volunteers: young adults (78 participants), healthy older people (67 participants) and a chronically-ill older people (65 participants). Vital goals were obtained by means of open-ended questions, whose responses were content-analyzed. Results. Results showed that goals were similar in healthy and chronically-ill older people, most of whom were focused on health, and oriented to maintenance. In contrast, among young adults, most objectives were related to development and attaining new gains. Among older people, neither age nor health status significantly predicted the probability of mentioning health-related goals. Conclusion. Results suggest that age expectations have a greater influence than health circumstances on determining life goals.

Escopo. Este estudo pretende explorar os objetivos vitais em diferentes momentos da vida e determinar a influência da idade e o estado de saúde neles. Metodologia. Num estudo transversal foram comparadas três amostras de voluntários: uma de jovens (78 participantes), uma de idosos ativos (67 participantes) e uma de idosos com doenças crónicas (65 pessoas). Os objetivos vitais foram obtidos através de uma pergunta aberta, cujas respostas foram sometidas a uma análise de conteúdo. Resultados. Os objetivos vitais foram similares para idosos saudáveis e com doenças crónicas, com um predomínio de objetivos centrados na saúde e uma orientação para a manutenção. Em vez de isso, nos jovens, a maioria dos objetivos teve que ver com o desenvolvimento e a obtenção de novos ganhos. Entre os idosos, nem a idade, nem o estado de saúde previram de maneira significativa a possibilidade de mencionar objetivos centrados na saúde. Conclusão. Os resultados sugerem que as expectativas de idade têm uma influência maior que as circunstancias de saúde concretas na determinação dos objetivos vitais.