Health and multidimensional disability at older age in South Korea: Applying the International Classification of Functioning,Disability and Health (ICF) Framework11

This study examined whether health conditions and service-related environmental factors (i.e. accessibility and infrastructure) affected multidimensional disability (i.e. body function, activity and participation), considering service-related environmental factors as moderators. The sample included 10,451 Korean adults aged 65 and older. The main findings revealed that the number of chronic illnesses negatively influenced multidimensional disability. Better accessibility positively affected all three disability dimensions, whereas infrastructure had different associations with each dimension. Additionally, only infrastructure moderated the associations between chronic illnesses and activity capacity and chronic illnesses and participation frequency. Theoretical, practical and policy implications are discussed.