Evaluation of spiritual well-being using purpose in life (PIL) assessment among older people living in the community of South Korea: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: South Korea is experiencing an ageing population, coupled with a high prevalence of mental health issues among its older people. This study aimed to identify the variables that influence spiritual health (SH), seeking to provide a stronger theoretical foundation and practical guidance for designing interventions to improve purpose in life (PIL), ultimately improving spiritual health and overall quality of life in older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey included 270 older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) from Wonju, Gangwon Province, and Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The paper-based survey questionnaire included questions on demographic characteristics, health perceptions, and the PIL test. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using Stata 18. RESULTS: A total of 270 older adults (mean age = 73.8 ± 6.5 years) participated in the study, with women comprising the majority (62.6%). Among the participants, 79.6% (n = 215) reported low levels of purpose in life (PIL), while 20.4% (n = 55) reported moderate levels; no participants were classified as having high PIL. Educational attainment was significantly associated with PIL, as individuals with a university degree (p = 0.04) or graduate-level education (p = 0.01) were less likely to report moderate PIL compared to those with primary or junior high school education. In contrast, living with a care recipient was strongly and positively associated with moderate PIL (p = 0.001). Similarly, participants who reported strong religious faith demonstrated higher odds of moderate PIL (p < 0.01), whereas adherence to Shintoism was negatively associated with PIL (p = 0.03). Interestingly, engagement in volunteer activities was also inversely associated with PIL (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that PIL in older adults is shaped by a complex interplay between cultural, historical, and social factors. To address these issues, it is important to promote structured volunteer opportunities tailored to the preferences of older adults, strengthen caregiver support systems, and implement interventions that focus on alleviating social and economic difficulties. By doing so, it is expected that the sense of purpose in life among older adults will be enhanced, leading to an improvement in their overall well-being.