The Effect of Social Participation on Perceptions of Respect for Older Adults and the Expectations of Improvement in Society among the Older Adults

Abstract

This study aims to examine whether social participation of older adults influences perceptions of respect for older adults in our society. In addition, this study analyzes the extent to which social participation of older adults is related to older adults’ expectations of improvement in respect for older adults in our society. The study sample is 3,211 elderly from the Gyeonggido Survey of the Elderly in 2021. To test the research questions, this study employed descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analyses. Key research findings are as follows: First, this study found negative impacts of elderly’s social participaton on the perceptions of respect for older adults in our society. Second, the elderly’s social participation had negative impacts on the expectations of improvement in the respect for older adults in our society. Based on the research findings, this study concludes by proposing several implications to enhance both social participation and respects for older adults in our society.