How Happy Are Korean Older Adults, and How Can Their Happiness Be Improved?:

Focusing on the Effects of Social Trust and Social Participation Activities

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants of happiness among older adults in South Korea, focusing on the roles of social trust and social participation. Using nationally representative data from the 2023 National Assembly Futures Institute ' s Happiness Survey (n = 16,305, including 3,200 respondents aged 65 and older), we conducted descriptive, bivariate, and multiple regression analyses. Subjective health status and marital status emerged as the strongest predictors of happiness in later-life. Social trust—particularly in family and neighbors—was consistently associated with higher happiness, whereas trust in strangers predicted happiness only in the general population. Participation in alumni associations was the only significant social activity associated with happiness among older adults, while hobby club participation was more influential among the general population. Economic factors such as income and employment predicted happiness in the general population, but not among older adults. These findings suggest that enhancing subjective health, strengthening close social relational trust, and supporting informal social networks may be more effective for improving well-being in later life than economic or formal civic interventions.