Factors Influencing Formal Care Service Usage: A Comparison of Middle-aged and Older Adults residing in South Korea

This study explored factors of formal care service usage, dividing service users between middle-aged (50-64) and older adults (65+). Despite of upsurging care needs of middle-aged adults, previous studies have not studied on their care needs. Therefore, we focused on examining the factors of service uses for understanding their needs for public care services. We used the second data from Care SOS Center in Seoul, South Korea and selected 31,265 people who used the services in 2021. Independent variables were organized into four categories - predisposing, enabling, need, and health care system factors - based on Andersen's theory of service uses, for which many previous studies have adopted. After conducting multiple regression analysis using SPSS 25.0, the results were as follows: First, regarding the predisposing factors, middle-aged adults who have many family members were more likely to use care services, while older adults’ family members were not statistically significant. Second, need factors such as the discharged patients were pivotal in care service uses of both middle-aged and older adults. Third, older adults who had used other social care services before were less likely to use this short-term care SOS services, but the result was not statistically significant for middle-aged adults. Based on the results, we suggested social welfare interventions such as developing intensive care services for the discharged based on community care, interlocking and connecting social care services, making interventions for the excluded who needs imminent services as well as pointed out the importance of universal care services for both older and middle-aged adults.