| Studies of aging populations have usually focused on the role of physical activity in improving health status. However, better health does not guarantee greater life satisfaction and attainment of a higher quality of life. Global well-being indexes reveal that older Koreans have a higher life expectancy and health status, but less life satisfaction and more depression with the highest suicide rate worldwide. Most of them do not become involved in any physical, productive, or social leisure activity, all of which can provide a multitude of benefits for successful aging. Therefore, this study investigates a nationally representative sample of older Koreans to demonstrate the link between different types of activities (exercise, travel, continuing education, volunteer activities, senior centers, club activities, and television watching) and older adults' perceived quality of life, including depression symptoms, perceived health status, and life satisfaction. Additionally, this study identifies the relationship between older adults' sociodemographic characteristics and their leisure participation based on the social gerontology theories. Research findings show that meaningful leisure engagement, particularly travel and exercise, can be a positive factor in older adults' perceived quality of life. Interestingly, watching television is positively related to relationship satisfaction with spouse and children, but negatively influenced other quality of life indicators. Older adults' sociodemographic characteristics also play an essential role in their leisure participation. |
