Levels of Digital Engagement Among Older Adults in South Korea: A Latent Profile Analysis and Implications for Digital Inclusion

Background Digital inequality among older adults involves within-group differences in the levels of digital engagement across multiple everyday-life domains. Objective This study identified levels of digital engagement among Korean adults aged 65 and older and examined factors associated with profile membership. Methods Using data from the 2022 Digital Divide Survey, latent profile analysis was conducted, followed by multinomial logistic regression using a manual three-step approach. Results Three engagement profiles emerged: low (46.2%), moderate (46.3%), and high engagement (7.5%). Gender, residential area, digital device self-efficacy, and digital attitudes were significantly associated with profile membership, whereas household income was not significantly associated with profile membership. These findings indicate differences in levels of digital engagement among older adults and highlight associations with selected sociodemographic, individual, and contextual factors.