The Moderating Role o f Subjective Social S tatus in the Relationship between Housing and Medical Costs and Life Satisfaction among Older Adults in Korea

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to investigate the determinants of life satisfaction in the case of Korean older adults, based on housing and medical costs and the moderating effects of subjective social status. Design/methodology/approach: This research adopted the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging as its data source, covering the period from 2018 to 2020. Regression analysis and median split analysis were conducted, in which the number of observations was 7,154. Findings: Our results indicated that subjective social status had an overall moderating effect, and a direct positive effect, on life satisfaction. The results also showed that housing costs negatively impacted the life satisfaction of the older adults. Research limitations/implications: The results of this research contribute to the literature by clarifying the relationships among housing costs, medical costs, subjective social status, and life satisfaction and provide insight for appropriate policy guidelines and protective measures for seniors. Originality/value: The research aims to elucidate the relationships between these parameters in the elderly population. Furthermore, this study has the potential to serve as a cornerstone for the development of policies and programs that prioritize the well-being of senior citizens.