Abstract:

In this study, a panel analysis was conducted by combining the 2013 Korea Welfare Panel data and 2018 data to examine the differences in the quality of life of the divorced elderly and the difference between the married elderly. To this end, I analyzed data from 3,049 married elderly and 149 divorced seniors among 3,098 married persons over 60 years of age in the eighth Wave of Korea Welfare Panel 2013. The frequency, reliability, cross tab, paired t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed using SPSS 21.0. First, the change in marital status of the elderly was not significant. Second, the divorced elderly were adjusting to life after divorce. In other words, income satisfaction, family relationship satisfaction, child relationship satisfaction, leisure life satisfaction, and life satisfaction were all positively changed in 2018 compared to 2013. Third, the divorced elderly had a lower quality of life compared to the married elderly. In other words, despite the positive change in quality of life for five years after divorce, the income satisfaction, family relationship satisfaction, child relationship satisfaction, social relationship satisfaction, and leisure life satisfaction were all lower than those of married elderly people were. It is important to find ways to improve the quality of life after divorce. Efforts are needed to reduce negative social perceptions about divorce in old age. And, alternative family linkages are needed.

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