Abstract

This study aims to test the following two hypotheses. First, the life satisfaction of the elderly is not directly
affected by their resident status. Second, guided by activity theory and symbolic interaction theory, social
activities outside the home (paid work, unpaid work, and hobby/leaning activity) have a greater effect on life
satisfaction for elderly people living alone than those living with family members. Participants were 1,774
elderly people who had participated in courses for the elderly to learn various topics, with a final study sample
size of 1,539 after flawed survey sheets were removed. T-test findings showed that resident status did not directly
influence life satisfaction. A multi-group structural equation model analysis verified that unpaid work has a
greater effect on the life satisfaction of the elderly living alone than the one of elderly living alone. These results
suggest that unpaid work acts as a buffer effect to decreased life satisfaction.

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