Browse > Article

A Study of Impact of Social Activities and Religion/Spirituality on Depression and Life Satisfaction among the Korean Elderly  

Kang, Sun-Kyung (Department of Social Welfare, Sogang University)
Kim, Hun-Jin (Department of Social Welfare, Cheongju University)
Publication Information
Korea journal of population studies / v.34, no.2, 2011 , pp. 163-190 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study assessed the manner in which social activities, religious experiences, and spiritual practices related to depression and life satisfaction among 217 Korean elderly individuals, aged 65 to 80. The Social Activities Scale and Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiosity/Spirituality were employed to assess social activities and six domains of religiosity/spirituality: daily spiritual experiences, values, forgiveness, private religious practice, religious/spiritual coping, and religious support. In addition, depression was assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale, and life satisfaction with the Satisfaction with Life Scale. After controlling for demographic variables, lower depression scores were predicted by higher levels of religious and spiritual coping, social activities, higher income, and ower daily spiritual experiences. In addition, identifying as female, advanced old age, and lower social activities predicted lower life satisfaction in this study. The implications of this study's findings on social work practice are also discussed, along with some future research directions.
Keywords
Religion/Spirituality; Social activity; Geriatric depression; Life satisfaction; Korean elderly;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Ahn, J. (2006). "Risk factors for depressive symptoms among Korean elderly," Dissertation Abstracts International, 66(9): 310.
2 Aizenberg, D. (2006). "Suicide attempt amongst elderly bipolar patients," Journal of Affective Disorder 91: 91-94.   DOI   ScienceOn
3 Bae, J. (2002). "Depression in the elderly," Korean Medicine, 63(5): 602-608.
4 Billings, G. and Moos, H. (1985). "Psychosocial stressors, coping, and depression," In E. Beckhan and W. Leber (Eds.), Handbook of Depression: Treatment, Assessment, and Research (pp. 940-963). Homewood, IL: Dorsey Press.
5 Bisconti, L. (1999). "Perceived social control as a mediator of the relationships among social support, psychological well-being, and perceived health," The Gerontologist, 39(1): 94-103.   DOI   ScienceOn
6 Byard, W., Hanson, A., and Gilbert, D. (2004). "Suicide methods in the elderly in South Australia 1981-2000," Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine, 11: 71-74.   DOI   ScienceOn
7 Canda, E. and Furman, L. (1999). Spiritual Diversity in Social Work Practice: The Heart of Helping. New York: Free Press
8 Centore, J. and Clinton, T. (2008). "Benefits of religion on recovery from relationship problems," In J. Onedera (Ed.), The role of Religion in Marriage and Family Counseling (pp. 181-196). New York: Routledge.
9 Cho, M. (2002). "The condition of mental illness of the elderly in Korea," Neuropsychology, 41(5), 758-766.
10 Choi, Y. (2003). "The study on depression, self-esteem, and health behaviors in the elderly," Journal of Welfare for the Aged, Fall, 27-47.
11 Choi, G. and Tirrito, T. (1999). "The Korean church as a social service provider for older adults," Arete, 23(2): 69-83.
12 Emmons, R. and Paloutzian, R. (2003). "The psychology of religion." Annual Review of Psychology, 54: 377-402.   DOI   ScienceOn
13 Fetzer Institute (1999). "Multidimensional measurement of religiousness/spiritualiy for use in health research," A Report of the Fetzer Institute. Kalamazoo, MI: John E. Fetzer Institute.
14 Fontalba, A., Barrigon, M., and Anguita, M. (2007). "Suicide attempts in over 60 years old patient," European Psychiatry, 2:S337.
15 Fry, S. (2000). "Religious involvement, spirituality and personal meaning for life: Existential predictors of psychological well-being in community-residing and institutional care elders," Aging and Mental Health, 4: 375-387.   DOI   ScienceOn
16 Hong, J. (2000). The Impact of Personality and Self-Integration on Reminiscence in Elderly. Unpublished Dissertation. Ewha University.
17 Huh, J. and Yoo, S. (2002). "The study on factors affecting geriatric depression," Mental Health and Social Work, 13: 7-35.
18 Jang, M. and Kim, Y. (2005). "The relationship between stressors, depression, and suicidal thoughts in the elderly," Mental Health Nursing, 14(1): 33-42.
19 Kalkstein, S. and Tower, R. (2009). "The daily spiritual experiences scale and well-being." Journal of Religion and Health, 48(4): 402-417.   DOI   ScienceOn
20 Kang, S. (2009). "The effects of self-efficacy and social support on the quality of life of the elderly with depression," Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 29(2): 629-643.
21 Kang, S. (2010). "The effects of social activities and fear of death on depression in the elderly." Health and Social Welfare Review, 30(2): 85-109.
22 Kang, S and Park, H. (2008). "The study of friendship network and psychological support on life satisfaction of the elderly residents," Korean Journal of Social Welfare Research, 18(2): 117-139.
23 Kim, H. (2001). "Effect of social skill training on the interpersonal relationship," Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 20(2): 546-560.
24 Kyung, J. and Yoo, Y. (2000). "The relationship between family health and depression level," Journal of Welfare for the Aged, Winter: 185-219.
25 Kim, J. (1988). The Study on Social Activities and Self-Integration in the Elderly. Unpublished Dissertation of Ewha Womens' University.
26 Koh, S., Sohn, A., and Choi, Y. (2001). "The elder depression depending on socio-demographic variables," Korean Journal of Family Social Work, 6(1): 3-15.
27 Koenig, G. (2006). "Religion, spirituality and aging," Aging and Mental Health, 10(1): 1-3.   DOI   ScienceOn
28 Lazaus, R. and Folkmans, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. NewYork:Springer.
29 Lubben, E. and Gironda, M. (2003). "Centrality of social ties to the health and well-being of older adults," In B. Berkman and L. Harooytan (Eds.), Social Work and Health Care in an Aging World: Informing Education, Policy, Practice, and Research (pp.319-350). New York: Springer.
30 Lee, E. (2007). "Religion and spirituality as predictors of well-being among Chinese American and Korean American older adults," Journal of Religious, Spirituality and Aging, 19(3): 77-100.   DOI   ScienceOn
31 Mui, A. and Shibusawa, T. (2008). Asian American Elders in the Twenty-First Century: Key Indicators of Well-Being. New York: Columbia University Press.
32 Nelson-Becker, H. (2005). "Religion and coping in older adults: A social work perspective," Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 45(1): 51-67.   DOI   ScienceOn
33 Pang, K. (2000). "Symptom expression and somatization among elderly Koreans," Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 6: 199-212.   DOI   ScienceOn
34 Park, J. and Jung, Y. (2005). "The study on satisfaction of life and suicidal thoughts," Journal of Community Development, 10(1): 39-59.
35 Shin, E. and Lee, I.(2002)."The study of factors of family and behavioral modes affecting the elder depression," Jr. of Welfare for the Aged, Spring: 147-168.
36 Yoon, P. and Lee. E. (2007). "The impact of religiosity, spirituality, and social support on psychological well-being among older adults in rural areas," Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 48(3): 281-298.
37 Smith, A., McCullough, M. and Poll, J (2009). "Religiosity and depression: Evidence for a main effect and the moderating influence of stressful life events," Psychological Bulletin, 29: 614-636.
38 Yoon, H. and Won, S. (2010). "The impact of spirituality and religious involvement on life satisfaction and depression of the elderly in Korea." Journal of Korean Gerontology, 30(4): 1077-1093.
39 Yoon, P. (2006). "Factors affecting subjective well-being for rural elderly individuals: The importance of spirituality, religiosity, and social support," Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work, 25(2): 59-75.   DOI