Relationship between Actual Health and Yangseng of the Elderly in Urbanites - Focused on certain parts of urban areas in Jeonbuk province -

도시지역(都市地域) 노인(老人)들의 건강실태(健康實態)와 양생(養生) 수준(水準)과의 관련성(關聯性) - 전라북도(全羅北道) 일부(一部) 도시지역(都市地域)을 중심(中心)으로

This study was carried out to provide essential data for the future health promotion projects to be aimed at improving quality of life for the elderly people in the increasingly aging society of Korea by investigating factors related to the yangseng of old people in urban areas. The results of this study are to be used as basis for efficient approach toward health promotion projects for the elderly in urban communities. For the purpose, a survey by questionnaires was conducted to urbanites from May th June 2004. The collected replies were analyzed from the viewpoints of Oriental Medicine for yangseng. 1. The average points of health care were 3.24. In details by sub-areas, 3.78 was rated for morality yangseng, 3.29 for mind, 3.30 for diet, 3.79 for activity and rest, 2.32 for exercise, 3.72 for sleeping, 2.95 for season and 1.81 for sexual life, which showed that the area of activity and rest yangseng was scored highest while the area of sexual life yangseng was rated lowest. 2. As for the extent of health care depending on the characters of subjects, higher scores were rated by men than women, younger ones than aged and spoused ones than singles. Married couples living without other family members were found to yangseng most, while more yangseng was taken by the educated, job holders and those who utilize leisure and have religion in order. 3. Men exercised more yangseng than women in the diet, exercise and sleeping. By age, the group aged 65 to 69, the more yangseng in the exercise and sexual life. The group with spouse featured higher concern for yangseng in all categories except for season. Married couples who are living with no other family members recorded the highest point in all areas except for exercise. 4. The more one is educated, the more he/she is tended to take yangseng in the sub-areas of exercise and sexual life. The group with occupation is also inclined to take more yangseng in the same sub-areas as those of the highly educated. When they pay living cost together with offspring, they appeared to be the most yangseng in season and sexual life. People who enjoy leisure showed higher yangseng in all areas except for season. Religion had a significant influence in all areas except for activity and rest yangseng. 5. Those who reply that they are confident with health and have no disease proved to have higher yangseng. Depending on whether one has disease or not, higher yangseng was confirmed in such sub-categories as mind and sleeping. Those who replied they are confident with health had higher yangseng in all areas except for season. As seen above, yangseng of the old people in the urban area is found to have different extent depending on the individual and socioeconomic characters, factors which should be seriously considered in the local health promotion projects and projects for the health of the elderly. It seems therefore necessary to launch health promotion programs and to analyze their effects to promote health care particularly in the areas of sexual life, exercise and season yangseng that featured lowest grade of yangseng in each sub-area.