[Difference of Associating Factors of Happiness Index among Korean Adults by Life Cycle Age Brackets]

Life satisfaction, or happiness index (HI), is an important determinant of health and well-being and even affects mortality. The purpose of this study was to observe the level and associating factors of HI and influencing factors of Korean adults by life cycle. The data sources used were the results of the 2015 Community Health Survey, with a total of 226,545 people. The HI was surveyed with a single question that answered from 1 to 10 points, and more than 8 points, which is the top 25%, were expressed as the subjective happiness awareness rate. The life cycle age was divided 19-44 years old, 45-64, 65-74, and 75 years old or older, and factors affecting subjective happiness were observed by multi-logistic regression analysis. The average HI of the entire target group was 6.68±1.82 points, and the subjective happiness awareness rate was 34.7%. By life cycle, social activity participation and unmet health need were the most influential factors in all 4 life cycles, with participation in social activities being 65-74 years old (odds ratio [OR], 2.48; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.22-2.77), and unmet health need being 75 years old or older (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.38-0.53). In the above, participation in social activities, was a factor that significantly affected the increase in happiness, and the amount of influence of these factors varies depending on the life cycle. It encourages the creation of a supportive environment to promote participation in social activities at the community level, and emphasizes efforts to strengthen and improve infrastructure to address unmet health need demand.