Familial Support and Funeral Planning among Korean Older Adults

Bon Kim, Center for Collaborative Research on Population and Society, Dongguk University
Cheong-Seok Kim, Dongguk University
Brittany Gaines, University of Massachusetts Boston

According to Korean customs based in Confucianism, discussing death is taboo, especially between adult children and parents. However, there is an expectation in Korea that adult children make funeral arrangements for their parents. While societal norms are changing, many Korean older adults remain uncomfortable talking about death, and there is limited understanding about if and how individuals plan for the end-of-life. Using a theoretical framework that draws from the altruism perspective and incorporates Confucianist influences, this study seeks to address this gap in understanding by examining funeral planning among Korean older adults and exploring how planning is associated with familial relationships. Using the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans, we estimated logistic regression models using a sample of community-dwelling, married and unmarried adults aged 65 and older with children (N = 9,550). Models included three types of support respondents may receive from their spouse and/or adult children. Results suggest that, regardless of marital status, older adults receiving emotional and financial support from their adult children are more likely to be involved in planning their own funerals. Receiving support from adult children may be indicative of closer familial ties, which subsequently may prompt more familial discussions and activities, including funeral planning.

Keywords: Older Adults and Intergenerational Relations, Population Ageing, Families, Unions and Households

See extended abstract.