Factors Influencing Successful Aging in Community-Dwelling Older Women: A SOC Model Approach

South Korea entered a super-aged society in December 2024, and the proportion of elderly women, who have a longer life expectancy than men, has also been steadily increasing. Consequently, social interest and community-level interventions for successful aging are required. This study examined the effects of perceived health status, urinary incontinence, sleep quality, social support, and selective optimization with compensation (SOC) strategies on successful aging among community-dwelling older women.

The cross-sectional design was used. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted from July 1 to August 30, 2024, with 154 women aged 65 years and older enrolled at eight senior centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Validated questionnaires were used to assess the perceived health status, urinary incontinence, sleep quality, social support, SOC strategies, and successful aging. Data were analyzed using t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis.

Successful aging was positively correlated with perceived health status, social support, and SOC strategies, and negatively correlated with urinary incontinence and poor sleep quality. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that the three-stage regression model was statistically significant (F=25.223, P<0.001). In the third stage, perceived health status (β=0.463, P<0.001), social support (β=0.469, P<0.001), and SOC strategies (β=0.124, P=0.022) were identified as statistically significant variables. The model explained 58.8% of the variance.

Perceived health status, social support, and SOC strategies have been identified as factors influencing successful aging. Despite the limitations of the cross-sectional study design based on convenience sampling, the findings of this study provide a foundation for developing interventions aimed at promoting healthy aging among the elderly population.