The Relationship Between the Discrimination Experience and Life Satisfaction Among the Elderly with Disabilities: Focusing the Multiple Mediating Effects of Health and Social Participation

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of the experience of discrimination on the life satisfaction of the elderly with disabilities and verify the mediating effects of health and social participation in this relationship. Using the dataset of National Survey of the Disabled Persons in S. Korea, this research focused on the life experiences and their impacts on people aged over 60 with physical disabilities. The findings show that the discrimination the elderly with disabilities experienced had a significant impact on their life satisfaction and had a direct impact on their social participation and health. Additionally, this study identified the indirect effects of health and social participation, which is significant in the relationship between the discrimination experience of and life satisfaction of the elderly with physical disabilities. In conclusion, the discrimination experience, health and social participation of the elderly with disabilities are important variables for their life satisfaction. Based on these findings, this study discussed practical implications for the enhancement of their life satisfaction.