Elderly People Dissatisfied with Marriage Show Lower Cognitive Function... Research Findings Released

Joint Research with University of Wisconsin-Madison

A study has found that marital satisfaction experienced by middle-aged and elderly individuals affects cognitive function.

Professor Jin-ho Kim of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Korea University's College of Health Science announced on the 28th that, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States, they conducted a multifaceted analysis of how changes in marital satisfaction among middle-aged and elderly Koreans impact individual cognitive function.

According to the study, the effect of marital satisfaction on cognitive function varied by age group. Among middle-aged individuals, cognitive function declined as marital satisfaction decreased, and cognitive function improved as satisfaction increased.

In contrast, for the elderly, an increase in marital satisfaction did not affect cognitive improvement, but a decrease in marital satisfaction had a significant impact on cognitive decline.

Professor Kim stated, “In Korean society, since an individual's identity is closely linked to traditional roles assigned by society, an unsatisfactory marital life can cause significant stress and lead to social isolation.”