The purpose of this research is to analyze the determinants of the most typical socialrole types, namely family care, social participation and work, and to find outthe influence of these social role types on life satisfaction of the older adults. Datafrom the 1st wave of the 『Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging』 was used foranalysis. The analysis includes three steps: first, t-test and Analysis of variance wasemployed to find out the differences in life satisfaction according to the socio-demographiccharacteristics of the older adults. Second, multiple regression analysiswas employed to find out the determinants of social role types, and to analyze theirinfluences on life satisfaction. The results are as follows.
First, older adults living in larger households and with lower household incometend to show the role of family care. Especially factors such as women with goodhealth were found to be statistically influential. However, the performance of familycare role was negatively associated with life satisfaction, indicating that the lifesatisfaction of older adults giving care within their families tend to be lower. Thedeterminants of social participation role were contrary to that of the family carerole, with high level of income and education acting as major determinants. Thelife satisfaction of people performing this role type was highest among the three.
Last but not least, the determinants of work role were low level of education, thoseliving in rural areas, low age, male and good health. This role type also had positiveeffect on the life satisfaction of older adults. The implications are, the society should take more responsibility for the need for care role caused by structuralchanges, in order to enhance the life satisfaction of the elderly. Also, programsconcerning the social participation of the elderly should be activated not only withinthe public arena but also by inducing the participation of the private sector.