The Impact of Social Status and Risk Behaviors on Health Status Among Elderly Individuals in Korea

Little attention has been paid to health status issues among elderly individuals in Korea. The purpose of this secondary data analysis was to develop a better understanding of relationship between a number of socioeconomic factors and subjective social status affecting risk behaviors and health status among Korean elderly. Path analyses of 9,585 Korean elderly provided findings that those who reported a higher level of socioeconomic status were less likely to engage in risk behaviors and thus more likely to have better health status. Further, those who reported a higher level of socioeconomic status were more likely to have a higher level of subjective social status and thus have better health status. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.