Domain Life Satisfaction, Eudaimonic Well-Being, and General Life Satisfaction among Korean Older Adults: A Moderated Mediation Model of Temporal Orientation toward Happiness

ABSTRACT

This study examines how domain life satisfaction is associated with general life satisfaction through eudaimonic well-being among older adults and whether this association depends on temporal orientation toward happiness. Drawing on the bottom-up perspective of life satisfaction, eudaimonic well-being theory, and life-span perspectives on time orientation, this study proposes that satisfaction with specific life domains is positively associated with general life satisfaction both directly and indirectly through eudaimonic well-being, which reflects meaning, accomplishment, and autonomy. It further argues that temporal orientation toward happiness conditions the extent to which domain life satisfaction is linked to eudaimonic well-being. Data were drawn from the 2024 Korean National Future Perception and Values Survey conducted by the National Assembly Futures Institute. The final sample consisted of 3,997 respondents aged 65 years and older. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed because the research model included a formative composite for domain life satisfaction, a reflective construct for eudaimonic well-being, and single-item constructs for general life satisfaction and temporal orientation toward happiness. The interaction term between domain life satisfaction and temporal orientation toward happiness was estimated using the two-stage approach, and significance was assessed through bootstrapping. The results showed that domain life satisfaction was positively associated with both eudaimonic well-being and general life satisfaction. Eudaimonic well-being was also positively associated with general life satisfaction and partially mediated the relationship between domain life satisfaction and general life satisfaction. In addition, temporal orientation toward happiness significantly moderated the relationship between domain life satisfaction and eudaimonic well-being. Specifically, as respondents placed greater importance on present happiness rather than sacrificing the present for future happiness, the positive association between domain life satisfaction and eudaimonic well-being became weaker. The moderated mediation effect was also significant. Additional robustness analyses showed that the main findings remained substantively unchanged after controlling for major sociodemographic characteristics. These findings suggest that, in later life, satisfaction with specific life domains is more strongly linked to general life satisfaction through eudaimonic well-being among older adults who are more willing to regulate the present in view of future happiness. This study contributes to gerontological well-being research by identifying a psychological transformation process through which domain-level life evaluations become integrated into global life satisfaction and by showing that this process varies according to temporal orientation toward happiness.