Factors Influencing Life Satisfaction in Middle-Aged Women

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the influences of aging anxiety, coping, ego-resilience, meaning of life, and generativity on life satisfaction among middle-aged women. Methods: Data were collected from 176 middle-aged women aged 40~64 living in four urban areas in South Korea through an online survey. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS version 26.0 for Windows. Results: Life satisfaction showed significant positive correlations with social support seeking as a coping strategy (r=.27, <i>p</i><.001), ego-resilience (r=.33, <i>p</i><.001), meaning of life (r=.46, <i>p</i><.001), and generativity (r=57, <i>p</i><.001), and negative correlations with aging anxiety (r=-.43, p<.001) and avoidance-centered coping (r=-.25, <i>p</i><.001). The factors affecting participants’ life satisfaction were perceived economic status (≥medium) (β=.33, <i>p</i><.001), generativity (β=.28, <i>p</i><.001), aging anxiety (β=-.27, <i>p</i><.001), meaning of life (β=.18, <i>p</i>=.009), and social support seeking (β=.12, <i>p</i>=.023). The explanatory power of these five variables was approximately 53%. Conclusion: To increase life satisfaction among middle-aged women, it is necessary to establish generativity, reduce aging anxiety, and foster a positive meaning of life by choosing a desirable coping method. Providing information on utilizing economic resources is also required.