Factors influencing the successful aging of older Korean adults

The study trend has been undergoing a change, increasingly focusing on successful aging factors for obtaining a healthy and happy life in old age and in an aging society. This study examined and identified the factors influencing the degree of successful aging among older Korean adults. This study was a cross-sectional design. The participants comprised of 305 Korean older people aged 60 years or over, who met eligibility criteria.

Measures were a general characteristics form, the self-liking/self-competence scale-revised version (SLCS-R) form, the self-efficacy scale, the interpersonal relationship scale, the self-achievement instrument, and the successful aging scale.

The analyses showed that the prediction model for successful aging among older Korean adults was significant (F = 159.09, p < 0.001). The value of the adjusted R(2) was 0.692, which corresponds to the explanatory power of 69.2%. The factor that was found to have the most influence on successful aging among older Korean adults was self-esteem (β = 0.38), followed by self-achievement (β = 0.25), interpersonal relationships (β = 0.22), and self-efficacy (β = 0.21).

This cross-sectional study provides preliminary evidence that self-esteem is a major and primary predictor of successful aging among older Korean adults. In the nursing practice, health professionals can use the results of this study in order to help older Korean adults obtain a positive outlook, promote a sense of self-worth, and achieve a higher degree of adaptability towards aging despite the health problems and personal issues associated with older age by providing intervention programs that advocate successful aging.