Elderly People's Self-Perceptions of Old Age and Its Determinants in Seoul, Korea: Focusing on Characteristics of Economic, Work, and Health Status Using Latent Class Analysis

Background and Purpose:

The benchmark age of 65, often linked with eligibility for social security, is under reconsideration in South Korea due to the financial strains of an aging population and the need to adjust the elderly dependency ratio. This study investigates the subjective 'old age threshold' among those aged 65 and over, examining the impact of various economic, employment, and health-related factors on this perception. Therefore, the aim is (1) to identify the characteristics of the elderly in Seoul regarding economic, work, and health status and (2) to examine the relationship between these characteristics and their self-perceived old age.

Methods:

The current study analyzed data from the Survey on the Welfare and Living Conditions of the Elderly in Seoul, 2022. A total of 3,010 respondents were selected as the final analytic sample. The dependent variable was the elderly's self-perceived old age. The independent variable, the latent typology of the elderly, was defined using eight factors: employment status, type of employment, job-seeking post-60, subjective economic conditions, economic hardship experiences, health status, physical activity levels, and household type. Sociodemographic covariates included age, gender, education, marital status, and social/volunteer activities. Latent class analysis (LCA) was employed to categorize elderly patterns in Seoul, followed by OLS regression to assess the link between these patterns and self-perceived old age.

Results:

This finding, which reveals that the average self-perceived old age among the elderly in Seoul, Korea, is 72.6 years, provides a significant understanding of how older adults in that region view aging.

LCA identified five distinct classes of the elderly in Seoul:

1. Class 1: Non-permanent employment with future employment expectations, living alone (11.90%)
2. Class 2: Permanent employment with future employment expectations, not living alone (24.10%)
3. Class 3: Non-permanent employment with future employment expectations (7.60%)
4. Class 4: Not employed but economically stable, not living alone (29.20%)
5. Class 5: Not employed, economically disadvantaged, and not living alone (27.50%)

Significant differences in self-perceived old age were noted across these classes. Class 1 (β = -1.08, p < .001) and class 3 (β = -0.87, p < .01) perceived themselves as younger compared to Class 2, while Class 5 (β = 0.12, p < .001) felt significantly older.

Discussion and Implications:

This study highlights that self-perceived old age among the elderly varies significantly with their employment and living situations. Specifically, those in stable employment and living with family tend to see themselves as older. This suggests that using subjective perceptions of old age to justify changes in social security age thresholds requires careful consideration, as it may not accurately reflect the diverse needs and conditions of the elderly population. This underscores the need for a nuanced approach to policy adjustments concerning old age benchmarks.