Human Ecology Research

The Korean Home Economics Association (대한가정학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Influence of Age-Identity on Existential Identity and Psychological Well-Being of the Elderly

노인의 연령정체감이 실존적 정체감과 심리적 안녕감에 미치는 영향

  • Lee, Shin Sook (Division of Social Welfare, Sunchon National University)
  • 이신숙 (순천대학교 사회복지학부)
  • Received : 2013.08.09
  • Accepted : 2013.11.11
  • Published : 2014.04.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the relationships between the elderly's existential identity and psychological well-being in accordance with the elderly's age-identity so as to improve the quality of life in the elderly with prolonged lives. The data were collected from respondents who were more than 60 years in age who live in city Suncheon. The statistics used for the data analysis were reliability, frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, one way analysis of variance, and multiple regression. The results of this study were as follows: (1) A majority of the elderly (49.8%) acknowledged psychological age as actual age. (2) The degrees of the elderly's existential identity was 54.90, while the degree of the elderly's psychological well-being was 33.07. (3) The elderly's existential identity level was significantly affected by economic state, spouse, age-identity, monthly living expenses, household, religion, career, age, and health state. Further, the elderly's psychological well-being level was significantly affected by existential identity, economic state, spouse, health state, age-identity, monthly living expenses, household, education, career, and age. (4) The variables that affect the elderly's existential identity were age-identity, economic state, health state, religion, monthly living expenses, and career, indicating an explanatory power of 38%. Moreover the variables that affect the elderly's psychological well-being were existential identity, age-identity, economic state, health state, and monthly living expenses, explaining approximately 55% of the total variance.

Keywords

References

  1. Alloy, L. B., & Abramson, L. Y. (1988). Depression realism: Four theoretical perspectives. In L. B. Alloy (Ed.), Cognitive processes in depression (pp. 223-265). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  2. Anderson, J. A., & Olnhausen, K. S. (1999). Adolescent self-esteem: A foundational disposition. Nursing Science Quarterly, 12(1), 62-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/08943189922106422
  3. Bae, M. G. (2008). Father's parenting behavior perceived by adolescent and their personality and self-concept (Unpublished master's thesis). Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Korea.
  4. Barak, B., & Stern, B. (1986). Subjective age correlates: A research note. Gerontologist, 26(5), 571-578. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/26.5.571
  5. Chang, S. O., Kong, E. S., Kim, K. B., Kim, N. C., Kim, J. H., Kim, C. G., et al. (2004). The concept analysis of ego-integrity in the elderly. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 34(7), 1172-1183.
  6. Chen, U. J. (2008). Identity of elderly and successful aging. Topic Review, 2(1), 1-8.
  7. Day, A. T., & Day, L. H. (1993). Living arrangements and successful aging among ever-married American white woman 77-87 years of age. Aging and Society, 13(3), 365-387. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X00001082
  8. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and arisis. New York, NY: Norton.
  9. Fry, C. L. (1996). Age, aging, and culture. In R. H. Binstock & L. K. George (Eds.), Handbook of aging and the social sciences (4th ed., pp. 117-136). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
  10. George, L. K., & Bearon, L. B. (1980). Quality of life in older persons: Meaning and measurement. New York, NY: Human Sciences Press.
  11. Goldsmith, R. E., & Heiens, R. A. (1992). Subjective age: A test of five hypotheses. Gerontologist, 32(3), 312-317. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/32.3.312
  12. Heckhausen, J., & Schulz, R. (1998). Developmental regulation in adulthood: Selection and compensation via primary secondary control. In J. Heckhausen & C. S. Dweck (Eds.), Motivation and selfregulation across the life span (pp. 50-77). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
  13. Hiller, S. M., & Barrow, G. M. (2007). Aging, the individual and society (8th ed). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
  14. James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology. New York, NY: Henry Holt.
  15. Jeong, U. R. (2012). The relationship between leisure activities (level and types) and life satisfaction of the elderly (Unpublished master's thesis). Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Korea.
  16. Jung, O. B., Kim, D. B., Jung, S. W., & Son, H. H. (2008). Social welfare with the aged. Seoul: Hakjisa.
  17. Kim, D. K., & Kim, U. M. (2012). Aging in society. Seoul: Hakjisa.
  18. Kim, J. Y. (2002). A study on the effects of the relation with children and personality on the old men's life satisfaction (Unpublished master's thesis). Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
  19. Kim, M. H., Shin, K. R., Choi, H. K., & Kang, M. S. (2006). The factor of successful aging types in Korean elderly. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 26(1), 91-104.
  20. Kim, M. R. (2008). Factors of successful aging affecting the life satisfaction of older women. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 28(1), 33-48.
  21. Kim, S. H., & Lee, S. S. (2009). A study on self- esteem and life satisfaction of the elderly. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 29(1), 309-327.
  22. Ko, J. U., & Whang, J. S. (2013). Social work with the elderly. Paju: Yangseowon.
  23. Koening, H. G. (1995). Religion and health in later. In M. Kimbel & S. H. McFadden (Eds.), Aging, spirituality, and religion: A handbook. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.
  24. Krause, N., Jay, G., & Liang, J. (1991). Financial strain and psychological well-being among the American and Japanese elderly. Psychology and Aging, 6(2), 170-181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.6.2.170
  25. Kwak, K. Y. (2011). The effect of teacher's reading activity on children's self-esteem and reading attitude in the regional childcenter (Unpublished master's thesis). Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Korea.
  26. Kwon, J. D., & Cho, J. Y. (2000). A study of factor influencing the life satisfaction on the aged. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 20(3), 61-76.
  27. Larson, R. (1978). Thirty years of research of the subjective well-being of older Americans. Journal of Gerontology, 33(1), 109-129. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronj/33.1.109
  28. Lee, H. Y. (2013). Social welfare for the elderly (2nd ed.). Seoul: Changjisa.
  29. Lee, J. B., & Jun, N. R. (2010). Human behavior and the social environment. Paju: Hakhyunsa.
  30. Lee, J. Y. (2009). A study on older adults' response to image of older adult. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 29(3), 1001-1024.
  31. Lee, M. R., & Kim, S. H. (2012). The interactive effects of age groups and demographical characteristics on self-integration of elderly people. Journal of the Korean Economics Association, 50(3), 95-109. http://dx.doi.org/10.6115/khea.2012.50.3.095
  32. Lee, S. S. (2002). A study of the relationship among cultural norms, family support, and the psychological well-being of the functionally disabled elderly (Unpublished master's thesis). Chungnam University, Daejeon, Korea.
  33. Lee, S. S. (2011). The effect of time use on life satisfaction on the retired elderly. Journal of Family Relations, 16(2), 35-58.
  34. Levy, B. R. (2003). Mind matters: Cognitive and physical effects of aging self-sterotypes. Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social sciences, 58(4), P203-P211. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/58.4.P203
  35. Lewinsohn, P. M., Rohde, P., Sweeley, J. R., & Fischer, S. A. (1991). Age and depression: Unique and shared effects. Psychology and Aging, 6(2), 247-260. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.6.2.247
  36. Montepare, J. M., & Lachman, M. E. (1989). "You're only as old as you feel": Self-perceptions of age, fears of aging and life satisfaction from adolescence to old age. Psychology and Aging, 4(1), 73-78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.4.1.73
  37. Neugarten, B, L., Havighurst, R. J., & Tobin, S. S. (1961). The measurement of life satisfaction. Journal of Gerontology, 16(2), 134-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronj/16.2.134
  38. Osgood, C. E., Succi, G. J., & Tannenbaum, P. H. (1957). The measurement of meaning. Urbana, IL: Illinois University Press.
  39. Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist's view of psychotherapy. Boston, MA: Houghtin Minffin Press.
  40. Row, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. Gerontologist, 37(4), 433-440. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/37.4.433
  41. Schwartz, A. N., Synder, C. L., & Peterson, J. A. (1984). Aging and life: An introduction to gerontology (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
  42. Shin, H. S., & Lee, S. J. (2007). The effect of family resources and influencing variables on life satisfaction among the elderly men retirees. Journal of Family Relations, 12(2), 187-213.
  43. Song, M. J. (2004). The developmental psychology. Seoul: Hakjisa.
  44. Song, Y. S. (2002). A study on the relationship of social support self esteem and life satisfaction of the elderly (Unpublished master's thesis). Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
  45. Statistics Korea. (2012). Agriculture, forestry and fisheries research report 2011. Daejeon: Statistics Korea.
  46. Westerhof, G. J., & Barrett, A. E. (2005). Age identity and subjective well-being: A comparison of the United States and Germany. Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social sciences, 60(3), S129-S136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/60.3.S129
  47. Whitbourne, S. K. (1987). Personality development in adulthood and old age: relationships among identity style, health, and well-being. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 7, 189-216.
  48. Won, S. J. (2011). Social welfare for the aged. Gyeonggi: Knowledge Community.