Effects of Social Exclusion on the Quality of Life Among Older Adults: A Mediation Analysis of Self-Determination Na Bora Advisor : Prof. Park Joo Young, Ph.D. Department of Clinical & Counselling Psychology Gwangju University The purpose of this ...
Effects of Social Exclusion on the Quality of Life Among Older Adults: A Mediation Analysis of Self-Determination Na Bora Advisor : Prof. Park Joo Young, Ph.D. Department of Clinical & Counselling Psychology Gwangju University The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of social exclusion on the quality of life among older adults and to verify whether self-determination plays a mediating role in this relationship. Data were collected from 300 adults aged 65 years and older using validated scales for social exclusion, self-determination, and quality of life. SPSS and Hayes’ PROCESS Macro Model 4 were used for the data analysis. The results indicated that social exclusion had a negative effect on both quality of life and self-determination among older adults. In addition, self-determination was found to significantly mediate the relationship between social exclusion and quality of life, suggesting that enhancing self-determination may alleviate declines in quality of life even among older adults who experience social exclusion. Notably, all three subdimensions of self-determination—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—showed significant parallel mediating effects, with autonomy and competence demonstrating relatively stronger influences. These findings highlight the importance of establishing multidimensional support systems that not only improve the social environment but also strengthen older adults’ internal capacities for self-determination in order to enhance their overall quality of life. Keywords : older adults, social exclusion, quality of life, self-determination, mediating effect