Psychological Well-Being of Female-Headed Households Based on Age Stratification: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea

Min Kwon and HyungSeon Kim
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Min Kwon: Department of Nursing, The University of Suwon, 17 Bondam-eup, Hwaseong-si 18323, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
HyungSeon Kim: Department of Nursing, Bucheon University, 56 Sosa-ro, Bucheon-si 14774, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: The female-headed household is a new vulnerable group associated with health inequality. The purpose of this study was to analyze psychological well-being and related factors among Korean female-headed households based on age stratification. This was a secondary analysis of data extracted from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (2017), which included a total of 9084 female-headed households. Their psychological well-being was measured by the WHO-5 well-being index. A total of 39.8% of female-headed household workers were psychologically unhealthy. Among them, 2.2% of those aged 15–30 years old, 8.1% aged 30–50 years old, and 29.5% over aged 50 years old were unhealthy. In the age group of 15–30 years old, depression/anxiety was negatively associated with psychological well-being. In the age group of 30–50 years old, living alone, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and depression/anxiety were negatively associated with psychological well-being. In the age group over 50 years old, low education level, living alone, low income, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and depression/anxiety were negatively associated with psychological well-being. The psychological well-being perceived by female households is complex and goes beyond economic poverty and dependent burdens. Therefore, a multidimensional support strategy should be included in the concept of social deprivation, and a preventive approach is needed to establish a support system.

Keywords: female-headed households; WHO; well-being; health equity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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