The impact of subjective socioeconomic status on life satisfaction among middle-aged adults: Parallel mediating effects of personal relative deprivation and depression

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국정보사회학회
· 수록지 정보 : 정보사회와 미디어 / 25권 / 3호 / 39 ~ 79페이지
· 저자명 : 남진영

초록

The global demographic landscape is shifting, with South Korea experiencing an aging population and high life expectancy at birth. Reflecting upon the aging population, middle-aged adults are the fastest-growing demographic group. However, middle age can be a transitional period of adulthood when life satisfaction, a key indicator of subjective well-being, can reach the lowest levels. Understanding the mechanisms behind middle-aged adults’ life satisfaction is fundamental, but the focus on middle-aged adults is frequently neglected in both research and policy considerations. This study aimed to explore how middle-aged adults’ subjective socioeconomic status affects their life satisfaction. Particularly, the study examined whether there is an association between subjective socioeconomic status and life satisfaction among middle-aged adults and whether personal relative deprivation and depression mediate this association. The study employed data collected in April 2024 from the panel data of the Digital Communication and Mental Health SSK research team. We employed 757 valid responses from middle-aged adults aged 50 – 64. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS 22.0 and The PROCESS Macro 4.2 (Model 4) to test a parallel mediation model. We evaluated a parallel mediation effect of personal relative deprivation and depression on subjective socioeconomic status and life satisfaction. The study found a significant positive association between subjective socioeconomic status and life satisfaction, and personal relative deprivation and depression played a partial mediation role in this association.
This study contributes to the existing literature on middle-aged adults’ quality of life. The study provides practical implications for policymakers, government, and local communities, emphasizing the need for interventions that support and enhance life satisfaction among middle-aged adults through a multifaceted approach. The government should provide relevant policy initiatives to strengthen care and support for middle-aged adults by assessing their subjective socioeconomic status and the impact on quality of life. A selective but comprehensive approach tailored to middle-aged adults is necessary, which involves economic support, policy support, and specific measures that can mitigate feelings of relative deprivation and improve one’s life satisfaction. Along with policies aimed at employment support that promote the employment of middle-aged adults, policy support for securing the necessities involving housing and living maintenance will be fundamental to addressing the needs of middle-aged individuals. Lastly, there exists a necessity to increase social participation and enhance mental health by initiating lifelong education programs and proactive psychological support interventions.

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