title: Effects of a change in social activity on quality of life among middle-aged and elderly Koreans: Analysis of the Korean longitudinal study of aging (2006-2012).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to examine a relationship between altered social activity and quality of life in later life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006-2012), which consisted of 7096 participants aged 45 years or older. Change in social activity was classified into four categories; that is, "consistent non-participation," "participation to no participation," "no participation to participation" and "consistent participation." Social activity was divided into various elements, and the same analysis was carried out for each element. The linear mixed model was used to investigate the association between changes in social activity and quality of life among middle-aged and elderly Koreans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those with changes from "participation to no participation" (b 2.253, P < 0.0001), "no participation to participation" (b 3.348, P < 0.0001) and "consistent participation" (b 6.624, P < 0.0001) were more likely to be satisfied with their lives than those with "consistent non-participation" (P < 0.0001 for trend). In addition, the impact of the positive relationship between consistent participation in social activity and quality of life varied across different elements of social activity. The positive association was particularly strong for religious activities, friendship organization, leisure/culture clubs, family/school reunion and voluntary work (b 1.451, P < 0.0004; b 5.049, P < 0.0001; b 4.903, P < 0.0001; b 4.757, P < 0.0001; b 4.562, P < 0.0001; respectively, for consistent participation vs consistent non-participation).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent participation in religious activities, friendship organizations, leisure/culture clubs, family/school reunion ,and volunteer work improves quality of life among middle aged and older Koreans. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 132-141.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Health Services Research, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Sig
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Health Services Research, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaeyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Health Services Research, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeoung A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Health Services Research, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Cheol
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012919:Social Behavior; D058992:Social Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Korean middle-aged and older persons; quality of life; social activity