University of Tokyo

Abstract
Survey Number 0339
Survey Title Survey on Life Planning and Finance/Insurance Vol. 5, 2003 (Survey on Life Planning among Single Middle and Old Age Individuals)
Depositor Japan Institute of Life Insurance
Restriction of Use For detailed information, please refer to 'For Data Users' at SSJDA website.

- Apply to SSJDA. SSJDA's approval required.
Educational Purpose Available for both research and instructional purposes.
Period of Data Use Permission One year
Access to Datasets Download
Nesstar Not available
Summary Life courses are diversifying with the diversification of social values. With the rising trends of late marriage, never getting married, divorce, etc., the proportion of singles among the middle-aged and elderly––population subgroups that were once almost uniformly married with a family¬––is rapidly increasing.

According to the 2000 Population Census of Japan, the number of unmarried people aged 35 to 54 was 2.96 million for men and 1.44 million for women, a significant increase from 2.53 million for men and 1.19 million for women in 1995. In addition, according to the 2001 vital statistics, the number of divorces has reached 280,000 a year, indicating that even if people do get married at least once, they often become single again.

It is presumed that middle-aged and older singles are beginning to plan their lives and take life protection actions with a view to the option of continuing their single life for the rest of their lives. This way of thinking is considered to be very different from that of married people from the same generation and young singles.

The purpose of this survey is to clarify life planning and life protection behavior by understanding the actual conditions of life consciousness and life behavior among middle-aged and elderly singles, which are populations that will continue to increase in the future.
Data Type quantitative research
quantitative research: micro data
Universe Single men and women between the ages of 35 and 54 (including divorcees and widows)
Unit of Observation Individual
Sample Size Sample size: 1,670, number of valid responses: 810
Date of Collection 2003/06/20 – 07/16
Time Period
Spatial Unit The Greater Tokyo Area (All areas in of Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, and Kanagawa prefectures)
Sampling Procedure
Mode of Data Collection Mail survey
Investigator Japan Institute of Life Insurance, survey carried out by Japan Statistical Survey Co., Ltd. (Ipsos)
DOI
Sponsors (Funds)
Related Publications (by the Investigator) Please refer to the abstract in Japanese.
Related Publications (based on Secondary Analysis) List of related publications (based on Secondary Analysis)
Documentation [Questionnaire]
Major Survey Items Questionnaire items:
(1) Lifestyle/life’s work
Comfortable life, advantages/disadvantages of single life, intention/plan to get married, intention to have children, lifestyle, leisure activities (leisure time, self-development activities/interaction/hobbies, fun and motivation in life, recreational socializing (on weekdays/days off and holidays/in the future), sense of leisure fulfillment, daily housework, dining out, level of satisfaction with life

(2) Consumer life
Daily living expenses (average expenditure, increase or decrease), leisure/entertainment expenses, high-consumption expenditure items, spending less on consumption expenditure.

(3) Image of life in old age
Concept of the age at which “old age” begins, necessary old age living expenses, expected amount of private financial assets for use in old age, use of financial assets in old age, expected amount of income during old age, lifestyle in old age, intention to utilize the option of a reverse mortgage, housing with care/senior housing needs.

(4) Life anxiety and life protection needs
Lifestyle anxiety, death insurance needs (private preparation status, satisfaction and intention to make additional preparations in the future),
Old-age protection needs (private preparation status, satisfaction and intention to make additional preparations in the future),
Medical insurance needs (private preparation status, sense of satisfaction and intention to make additional preparations in the future),
Long-term care protection needs (private preparation status, sense of satisfaction and intention to make additional preparations in the future),
Life protection that respondent considers important now and for the future

Face items:
Gender, age, highest level of educational attainment, marital status, occupation, average number of working days per week/average working hours per day, main income, supplementary income, cohabitating family members (presence and number children), whether living together or separately with family members, type of residence, intention to purchase/replace/rebuild a house, livelihood support for parents, financial support from parents, intention to save/invest, total financial assets, debt balance, inherited assets
Date of Release 2004/05/10
Topics in CESSDA Click here for details

Topics in SSJDA Economy/Industry/Management
Version 2004/05/10 :
Notes for Users Variable and value labels are written in Japanese.