Factors Associated With Productive Engagement Among Older South Koreans

ABSTRACT

 Although positive relationships among health, types of activities, and productive aging have been documented in Western industrial nations, little attention has been paid to rapidly developing countries. This study examined unique factors using national South Korean data. Community-dwelling adults aged 55 years and older (n = 6,688) were drawn from Wave II of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the main and interaction effects related to labor force participation (LFP) and lifelong-learning participation (LLP). Whereas one third (34.4%) of the respondents were involved in LFP, LLP was extremely low (6.8%). Health and socioeconomic status were significant in conducting LFP and LLP. Depression and cognition contributed to LFP but not LLP. Older men who reported higher levels of depression were less likely to engage in LLP than were their female peers. For female respondents, the social activities of exercise and alumni meetings contributed to the likelihood of LLP. Given the lower socioeconomic characteristics and low participation in lifelong learning, it is essential to establish financial incentives to encourage activity participation and develop programs to promote productive aging in South Korea. Future studies should consider the impact of environments and social policy on productive engagement.

KEYWORDS:

• Productive engagement
• lifelong learning
• activity participation
• labor force
• health status
• South Korea

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Othelia Eun-Kyoung Lee

Othelia Eun-Kyoung Lee, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, Department of Social Work, Charlotte, NC.

Jungui Lee

Jungui Lee, Ph.D., is a Program Specialist at the National Institute for Lifelong Education, Division of Lifelong Education Policy, Seoul, Republic of Korea.