Objectives This study examined the associations between digital literacy and self-rated health (SRH), depression, and life satisfaction among older adults in the Republic of Korea.
Methods Data were obtained from the 2023 National Survey of Older Koreans (n=9,951). Digital literacy was evaluated based on participants’ ability to use 8 smartphone functions and their perceived difficulty adapting to a digital society. Dependent variables included SRH, depression (measured using the short form of Geriatric Depression Scale), and life satisfaction (assessed through a composite score across 7 domains). Multiple logistic regression was applied for SRH and depression, while linear regression was conducted for life satisfaction, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related covariates.
Results Higher digital literacy was significantly associated with better SRH and greater life satisfaction. Compared to participants with no digital skills, those with moderate or high digital literacy had higher odds of reporting good SRH and significantly higher life satisfaction scores. Older adults who reported difficulty adapting to a digital society demonstrated significantly lower SRH and life satisfaction. However, after adjusting for covariates, the association between digital literacy and depression was not statistically significant.
Conclusion Higher digital literacy is linked to better SRH and greater life satisfaction. Moreover, digital literacy reduced the explanatory power of socioeconomic variables, suggesting that it serves as an important behavioral determinant. These findings underscore the importance of promoting digital literacy as a means of improving health equity and well-being in aging populations.
Objectives Social activities are important and influential factors for healthy aging. However, limited information is available regarding the associations of the type and intensity of social participation with health and well-being. This study aimed to investigate how various types of social activities are associated with several dimensions of health outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the Seventh Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, which included 5,526 adults aged 60 years and older. Multivariate linear regression analysis was employed to analyze the associations of social activities with depression, self-rated health, and life satisfaction. Additionally, subgroup analyses by sex and age were performed. Results: Among the participants, 73.5% reported involvement in at least 1 of the 4 types of social engagement. After adjustment for all covariates, individuals who participated in any social activity reported better self-rated health and higher life satisfaction compared to those who did not participate. However, the intensity of engagement in different social activities had varying impacts on subjective health outcomes. An increased level of participation was associated with a lower rate of depression and improved self-rated health. However, no significant differences were observed in the relationship between the intensity of participation in activities (with the exception of alumni societies or family councils) and life satisfaction. Conclusion: This study suggests that to improve their health, older adults in the Republic of Korea should not only engage in social activities but also do so actively and regularly.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Impact of Depression on Self-Rated Health Status among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Moderating Effects of Subjective Social Status and Formal Social Participation Using Data from the Ninth Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2022) Sohee Jung, Eunhee Yang, Soyoung Cha, Wonhee Baek Journal of Fundamental Nursing Science.2026; 33(1): 147. CrossRef
Gender differences in advanced activities of daily living: evidence from the longitudinal study of health and aging in Mexico 2012–2018 Martha A. Sánchez-Rodríguez, Mariano Zacarías-Flores, Lesly Estefanía Castañeda-Sánchez, Víctor Manuel Mendoza-Núñez Frontiers in Aging.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
The Associations Between Physical Activity, Body Perception, and Self-Rated Health in Korean Adults: An Analysis of the 2023 Korean Community Health Survey Geun-Kook Kim, Su-Yeon Roh, Sung-Ho Hwang Medicina.2025; 61(11): 1898. CrossRef
Objectives This study investigated the association between living arrangements and healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL) in older people. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted of 6,153 participants (aged ≥60 years) from the seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016 to 2018). HRQoL was measured using the 3-level version of the EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire. The chi-square test, t-test, and multiple regression were used, applying sampling weights for the analysis. Results: The proportion of respondents living alone was 18.0%, with a higher prevalence among women and older age groups (p<0.001). The overall HRQoL was lower in groups living alone than in groups living with others (p<0.001). Older people living alone showed higher impairments in all dimensions of the 3-level version of the European Quality of Life 5-Dimensional Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) than those living with others, including mobility (p<0.001), self-care (p<0.001), usual activities (p<0.001), pain/discomfort (p<0.001), and depression/anxiety (p<0.001). Problems with mobility were most prevalent (42.8%), followed by pain/ discomfort (41.9%) in respondents living alone. Living alone was significantly associated with a lower HRQoL index score (b=–0.048, p<0.001) after adjusting for age, gender, education, exercise, perceived stress, and perceived health status. Conclusion: Living alone was negatively associated with HRQoL. Based on this study, future care planning for older people should consider their living arrangements. The need to strengthen and expand care programs targeting those living alone should also be addressed.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Quality of life in later years: A comprehensive review of elderly well-being in India Sandhya Bharathi Shanmugasundaram, Pitchaimani Govindharaj, Srihari Ramamoorthy, Vijayalakshmi Purusothaman International Journal of Noncommunicable Diseases.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Convergent validity, reliability and responsiveness of the AP-7D and EQ-5D-5L based on the survey for the general people in five countries: a new cultural-specific preference-based measure developed in east and southeast asia Yuta Suzuki, Takeru Shiroiwa, Tatsunori Murata, Emi Kamono, Yasuhiro Morii, Takashi Fukuda Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Objectives
The aim of this study was to identify the effects of community-based home healthcare projects that influence service performances with regard to Korean national long-term care insurance services in older adults. Methods
The project's applicants were 18 operational agencies in national long-term care institutions in Korea, and participants were care recipients (<i>n</i> = 2263) registered in long-term care institutions. We applied our healthcare system to the recruited participants for a 3-month period from October 2012 to December 2012. We measured the community-based home healthcare services such as long-term care, health and medical service, and welfare and leisure service prior to and after applying the community-based home healthcare system. Results
After the implementation of community-based home healthcare project, all community-based home healthcare services showed an increase than prior to the project implementation. The nutrition management service was the most increased and its increase rate was 628.6%. A comparison between the long-term care insurance beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries showed that health and medical services’ increase rate of nonbeneficiaries was significantly higher than beneficiaries (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusion
Our community-based home healthcare project might improve the service implementation for older adults and there was a difference in the increase rate of health and medical services between Korean national long-term care insurance beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Current status of family physicians’ practices in geriatric medicine and associated factors in the Republic of Korea: A cross-sectional study Hyun-Young Shin Medicine.2026; 105(2): e47142. CrossRef
Perceived availability of home‐ and community‐based services and self‐reported depression among Chinese older adults: A cross‐sectional study Yushan Yu, Jun Zhang, Chao Song, Mirko Petrovic, Xiaomei Pei, Wei‐Hong Zhang Health & Social Care in the Community.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Community-based health financing: empirical evaluation of the socio-demographic factors determining its uptake in Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria Felix O. Iyalomhe, Paul O. Adekola, Giuseppe T. Cirella International Journal for Equity in Health.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Factors Influencing Burnout in Primary Family Caregivers of Hospital-based Home Care Patients Ju Ok Yang, Hye Kyung Lee Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nurs.2018; 29(1): 54. CrossRef
A Systematic Literature Review Comparing Primary and Community Health Care Indicators and Measurement Frameworks Nour El Kadri, Liam Peyton Procedia Computer Science.2017; 113: 384. CrossRef
Economic Effect of Home Health Care Services for Community-dwelling Vulnerable Populations Eunhee Lee, Jinhyun Kim Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2016; 46(4): 562. CrossRef
Objectives
This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a 6-month lifestyle modification program on the improvement in metabolic syndrome (MetS) status and in stages of change for lifestyle behaviors associated with MetS among Korean older adults. Methods
A lifestyle modification program was developed based on the transtheoretical model. The program consisted of health counseling, education classes, a self-management handbook, newsletters and a health diary. Older adults aged ≥60 (<i>n</i> = 480) with MetS were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG) or the comparison group (CG). The IG received a comprehensive 6-month lifestyle modification intervention, while the CG received minimal information on MetS and lifestyle modification. Health examination and selfadministered survey were conducted before and after the intervention to determine the effectiveness of the program. Results
After the intervention, the prevalence of MetS decreased to 38.1% in the IG and 52.4% in the CG (<i>p</i> = 0.046). The IG improved abdominal obesity (<i>p</i> = 0.016), blood pressure (<i>p</i> = 0.030), and triglyceride (<i>p</i> = 0.005) more than the CG did. The IG demonstrated significant improvements in the behavioral stages for portion control (<i>p</i> = 0.021), balanced diet (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and adequate intake of fruits and vegetables (<i>p</i> = 0.012). The IG reduced the prevalence of abdominal obesity (OR = 2.34) and improved MetS status (OR = 1.79) better than the CG. The IG were more likely to advance from preaction stages at baseline to action stage at post-intervention for portion control (OR = 3.29) and adequate intake of fruits and vegetables (OR = 2.06). Conclusion
Lifestyle modification can improve the MetS status and behavioral stages in older adults.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Rank ordering information on energy use can promote energy-conserving behavior in China Wenbo Li, Xiu Cheng, Ruyin Long, Jiaxin Huang, Chengjiang Li Communications Earth & Environment.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Development and Evaluation of a Blended Self-Management Program for Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Rheumatic Diseases BoAe Im, HyunSoo Oh, SooHyun Kim, HyeSun Jeong, WhaSook Seo Health Education & Behavior.2024; 51(4): 625. CrossRef
Comprehensive lifestyle modification interventions for metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis Sungwon Park, Jiwon Lee, Jo Woon Seok, Chang Gi Park, Jin Jun Journal of Nursing Scholarship.2024; 56(2): 249. CrossRef
Obstructive sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome Sara Q. C. Giampá, Geraldo Lorenzi‐Filho, Luciano F. Drager Obesity.2023; 31(4): 900. CrossRef
Association of Maintaining Healthy Habits with Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes, Dyslipidemia or Hypertension Jeong Hyeon Kim, Young Ho Yun Korean Journal of Family Practice.2021; 11(1): 74. CrossRef
Eating control and eating behavior modification to reduce abdominal obesity: a 12-month randomized controlled trial Soo Kyoung Kim, Norma Patricia Rodriguez Rocha, Hyekyeong Kim Nutrition Research and Practice.2021; 15(1): 38. CrossRef
The Use of Behavior Change Theories in Dietetics Practice in Primary Health Care: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Roshan R. Rigby, Lana J. Mitchell, Kyra Hamilton, Lauren T. Williams Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.2020; 120(7): 1172. CrossRef
The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Health-Related Behavior Changes: The Korea National Health Examination Survey Eunshil Yim, Kyounga Lee, Ilsu Park, Sangjin Lee Healthcare.2020; 8(2): 134. CrossRef
Efectividad de las intervenciones para revertir el diagnóstico del síndrome metabólico: actualización de un metaanálisis de comparación mixta de tratamientos Adriana Guzmán, Esteban Navarro, Leidy Obando, Jorge Pacheco, Korina Quirós, Leticia Vásquez, Milena Castro, Fernando Ramírez Biomédica.2019; 39(4): 647. CrossRef
Effect of patient education on metabolic syndrome components among females in Zagazig University outpatient clinics, Egypt: An intervention study Noha Osman Frere, Saeed Salah Abduljalil Soliman, Mohammed Adel Foda, Tayssir Kamel Eyada, Nagwa Eid Sobhy Saad Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research &.2019; 13(3): 1897. CrossRef
Handgrip strength is associated with metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and elderly community-dwelling persons Ryuichi Kawamoto, Daisuke Ninomiya, Yoshihisa Kasai, Tomo Kusunoki, Nobuyuki Ohtsuka, Teru Kumagi, Masanori Abe Clinical and Experimental Hypertension.2016; 38(2): 245. CrossRef
Depression among Korean Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Ansan-Community-Based Epidemiological Study Chan Young Park, So Young Kim, Jong Won Gil, Min Hee Park, Jong-Hyock Park, Yeonjung Kim Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.2015; 6(4): 224. CrossRef
Impact of Community-Based Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Metabolic Syndrome Intervention Technology in Rural Residents in Southern Jiangsu, China Kaijin Zhang Medical Science Monitor.2015; 21: 2163. CrossRef
Routine Screening and Consultation Facilitate Improvement of Metabolic Syndrome Nan-He Yoon, Seunghyun Yoo, Hyekyeong Kim, Yoonjung Han Journal of Korean Medical Science.2015; 30(8): 1092. CrossRef
Effectiveness of a low-intensity telephone counselling intervention on an untreated metabolic syndrome detected by national population screening in Korea: a non-randomised study using regression discontinuity design Sang-Wook Yi, Soon-Ae Shin, Youn-Jung Lee BMJ Open.2015; 5(7): e007603. CrossRef
Composition of Metabolic Syndrome Among Korean Adults in a Lifestyle Modification Intervention Nan-He Yoon, Seunghyun Yoo, Hyekyeong Kim Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.2014; 5(6): 370. CrossRef
Transtheoretical model stages of change for dietary and physical exercise modification in weight loss management for overweight and obese adults Nikolaos Mastellos, Laura H Gunn, Lambert M Felix, Josip Car, Azeem Majeed Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.2014;[Epub] CrossRef
Two Sides of Obesity: Metabolic Syndrome and Osteoporosis in Elderly Women, Gangwon-do, Korea Sungok Jang, Sungwha Lee, Jongseok Lee Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion.2014; 31(1): 13. CrossRef
Short-term Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention Program on Eating Behaviors, Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Risks in Korean Adults Jiyeon Park, Hyekyeong Kim Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion.2014; 31(4): 37. CrossRef
Motivational interviewing with the older adult Mirsad Serdarevic, Sonne Lemke International Journal of Mental Health Promotion.2013; 15(4): 240. CrossRef
First
Prev
