Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing (한국보건간호학회지)

Korean Society of public Health Nursing (한국보건간호학회)
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A Comparative Study on Mental Health between Elderly Living Alone and Elderly Couples - Focus on Gender and Demographic Characteristics -

부부가구와 1인가구 노인의 정신건강 비교 - 성별 및 인구사회학적 특성을 중심으로 -

  • Park, Bo-Young (Department of Nursing, ChungBug Health & Science University) ;
  • Kwon, Ho-Jang (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine) ;
  • Ha, Mi-Na (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine) ;
  • Burm, Eun-Ae (Department of Nursing, Moonkyung College)
  • 박보영 (충북보건과학대학교 간호학과) ;
  • 권호장 (단국대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 하미나 (단국대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 범은애 (문경대학교 간호학과)
  • Received : 2016.01.10
  • Accepted : 2016.08.25
  • Published : 2016.08.31
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Abstract

Purpose: This study is to compare the difference in status between elderly individuals with and without a spouse. Methods: The study is based on the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHAENS), between 2010 and 2012. Subjects were over the age of 65 years who participated in the survey. Chi-square test and logistic regression of complex sampling design of the KNHAENS and used the survey analysis method by SPSS (version 18). Results: Sleep time of female elders living alone was the shortest which was 2.59 times that of male elders living with a spouse. Stress awareness of female elders living with a spouse was the highest, which was 3.21 times that of male elders living with a spouse. Depression was the highest in female elders living alone, which was 2.26 times that of male elders living with a spouse. Suicidal idea was the strongest in female elders living alone, which was 2.87 times that of male elders living alone. Conclusion: Female elders living alone were weakest in regards to socio-economical aspect with the highest rate of poverty, low educational status, and unemployment. The mental health status of females was worse than that of males. In particular, the mental health status of females living alone was the worst.

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References

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