Using individual modernity as a measure of modernization and decision-making powei (DMP) to assess the status of the aged at the micro level, this study examines how modernity, family envirorunent, and demographic characteristics affect DMP of the aged in the extended family. Data are analyzed from a sample of 252 Korean elderly living with one of their married children.
In general, the elderly had distinctly less DMP than the younger generation in most family matters, although they had greater power in decisions about financial support for relatives, ancestor worship, and children´s religion. From the multiple regression analysis, age, marital status, residential area, children´s education, and individual modernity were significant predictors of DMP of the aged, indicating those who were younger, married, live in reral area, have modern attitudes, and have highly educated children had more power in decision-making. The positive relationship between individual modernity and DMP implies that having modern attitudes becomes an important resource in negotiation for decision-making power with their adult children.
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