Factors Influencing Life Satisfaction in Single-Person Households in Gyeonggi Province, Korea: A Generational Comparison

Abstract

This study examined the subcomponents of the local environment that have an important influence on the life satisfaction of people living in single-person households and analyzed how the causal relationship between these variables differs between generations. Specifically, the local environment was classified into the following subcomponents: convenience, comfort, safety, healthcare, and neighborhood relationships. This study analyzed the data of 3,260 respondents from single-person households in the 2020 Residents' Quality of Life Survey in Gyeonggi Province. As a result, it was found that the perception of all subcomponents of the local environment had a positive effect on the life satisfaction of people in single-person households. The effect of neighborhood relationships was relatively large compared to other subcomponents. Next, the influencing factors on life satisfaction of people in single-person households showed differences between generations, which were defined by this study as youth (under age 35), middle-aged (35-64), and elderly (65 and older). Convenience and safety for the youth group and neighborhood relationship for the middle-aged group were most important. The elderly group was most affected by healthcare. The proportion of single-person households worldwide, including in Korea, is gradually increasing, and considering this, this study provides important policy implications.