• 한국노년학
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1055-1068
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• 2008

Given the central role of sense of control in physical and emotional well-being, the present study examined the determinants of sense of control among Korean elders. We considered sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, education, and self-perceived economic status), health-related factors (chronic conditions, functional disability, and sensory impairment), stressful life events, and network-related resources (network of relatives, network of friends, and filial satisfaction) as potential predictors. Sense of control was measured with Pearlin and Schooler's (1978) Mastery Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses with 291 Korean elders aged 60 or older (M age = 69.9) identified lower self-perceived economic status, more chronic conditions, greater functional disability, greater vision impairment, more stressful life events, and lower filial satisfaction as significant risk factors for a diminished sense of control. Because most of the identified risks represent normative experiences during later life, the results underscored the importance of preserving or promoting sense of control for older adults. Implications of the findings and recommendations for future studies are discussed.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate perception of good death among the community-dwelling elderly and identify factors related to the perception. Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out using a convenient sampling method (N=317). Data were analyzed by applying descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Participants scored an average of 3.35 on a 4-point scale for the perception level of good death. They scored higher on the factor of personal control that other factors affecting the perception. Good death was positively correlated with family support (r=0.252). Family support (${\beta}$=0.287) and gender (${\beta}$=0.197) significantly influenced the elderly's perception of good death. These variables accounted for 10.2% of the total variance. Conclusion: The results show that family support is an important factor for the perception of good death among the elderly. Therefore, family support should be carefully considered to ensure good death for more senior citizens. Our findings can be utilized to support programs such as death education for the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.12 no.5_spc
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• pp.133-147
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• 2006

Korean society is rapidly becoming an ageing society. The Korean may have to live longer than did their parents. Increasing life expectancy and changing social structure, Korean people are getting interested in quality of life, and well-being is becoming a matter of concern. And, the Korean is fully aware of the importance of health for well-being or good life. This concern about health may bring about specific behaviors related to health. Although health care expenditures of Korea are currently smaller than those of other developed countries, it is continuously increasing. Large portion of increased amount of health care expenditures is to spend for disease prevention and expansion of long-term care facilities. Constructs of well-being of the Korean, not living in western culture, may be different from those of people living in western society. Health is not top-ranked to importance for quality of life in previous studies. It does not mean health isn't determinant factor for good life or well-being. Health is an essential element for well-being. It has been proved in several researches which examined poor quality of life caused by certain diseases and management of health-related quality of life. Some theories relate to health-seeking behaviors suggested the health belief or the attitude toward health, intention to do health behavior, perceived behavioral control, and self efficacy as important factors which could predict health-related behaviors. With getting older, people decline in physical and physiological functions and become vulnerable to chronic diseases. Quality of life depends on how to adjust to these changes in senescence. Social supports, especially supports from offspring, are very important to quality of life in senescence, because supports from offspring have influence on pride of the older, they may be afraid of disclose the conflict with their offspring. Avoiding self-disclosure exclude other source of social supports and harm individual's health, therefore psychological intervention is needed to. Increasing life expectancy of the Korean, Korean government has to provide numerous long-term care facilities as well as psychosocial supports. The Korean, so far, does not recognize that psychologist could render great service to promoting individual or community health and improving individual's quality of life. It is highly expected that psychologists take actively interested and involve in health related to quality of life.