• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.739-747
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• 2008

Purpose: This study aimed to uncover the fundamental nature of living alone in female elderly. Methods: The phenomenological research approach developed by van Manen was adopted. Results: The theme was 'taking a firm stand alone on the edges of life'. The composition elements of living alone experienced by elderly women were as follows: 1) Corporeality: participants perceived their bodies by their health status. Unhealthy participants were suffering with diseases and dependant on other persons, while healthy participants were free from family responsibility and kept on moving. 2) Spatiality: participants felt both freedom and loneliness while they stayed home. 3) Relationality: participants felt pity and yearning for their bereaved husband and sometimes talked to his picture. According to their children's filial piety, participants were pleased or displeased. However, they incessantly devoted themselves to their children. 4) Temporality: participants considered the rest of their life as extra-time which was proceeding to death, and tried to keep themselves busy before they died. Conclusion: A nurse should understand the multifarious aspects of elderly women's life, and then intervene to consolidate their strengths for self-supporting the final years of life.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-47
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating and mediating effects of social support and social activity on the relationship between depression and quality of life in elderly women living alone. Subjects were 129 elderly living alone at K city in C province, from June to July, 2010. The data was analyzed using the SPSS program for descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. The degree of depression of elderly living alone was above the average(2.65), and that of quality of life was average(2.80). The correlated factors of quality of life among elderly women living alone included depression(r=-.745, p=.004), social support(r=.544, p=.000), leisure activity(r=.480, p=.024), and economic activity(r=.711, p=.001). Social support was an important mediator between the depression and quality of life in elderly women living alone. The moderating effects of social support and social activity between depression and quality of life in elderly women living alone were not significant. This study suggests that social support considered in enhancing the quality of life programs designed for elderly living alone. Further research needs to be done to refine moderating and mediating effects of social support, social activity including leisure activity, economic activity and volunteer activity.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.85-96
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• 2024

This study attempted to examine the research trends of single-person households with disabilities using a systematic literature review research method. To this end, 2,161 papers published by September 30, 2023 were searched in a total of four databases: KCI, RISS, KISS, and e-Articl, combining related search terms such as single-person households with disabilities, single-person households and disabled person living alone. In five stages, irrelevant literature to single-person households with disabilities was excluded, and the final 13 documents were selected and analyzed. As a result of the study, first, research topics were classified into research topics for single-person households, analysis of the actual conditions and related factors, issues and support measures related to single-person households, and three case studies related to single-person households. Second, women, age, income, interpersonal skills, health, unemployment, and family support are lower in single-person households with disabilities. Accordingly, based on the research results, suggestions for follow-up studies and practical and policy implications for social welfare were presented.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.243-256
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was to investigate fear of falling and related factors in elderly living alone based on fall experience. Methods: Participants were 404 elderly women(faller=148, non-faller=256) over 65 years who were homebound living alone in Jeollanam-do Province. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using questionnaires from April $23^{th}$ to June $9^{th}$ 2013. The questionnaires consisted of demographic variables, fall experience, Fear of falling questionnaire(FOFQ), Falls Efficacy Scale(FES) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression(CES-D). The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS version 14.0. Results: The fear of falling and the influential factors were different according to fall experience. Regression model for fear of falling in fallers significantly accounted for 46.1%(F=6.71, p<0.001); difficulty of performing activity, depression, fall-efficacy, static balance and assistive devices. Regression model for fear of falling in non-fallers significantly accounted for 55.2%(F=15.16, p<0.001); fall-efficacy, environmental hazards, difficulty of performing activity, risk of nutrition, housing type, dizziness and assistive devices. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that fall is an important health problem for elderly women living alone, and show fall experience for factors influencing fear of falling. These results could be used in the developing fall prevention programs.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.55-64
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• 2017

This study was to develop a dementia prevention integration program and apply to elderly women living alone to evaluate the applicability of the program. Fifty-six participants who enrolled at local public health centers were assigned. The control and experimental groups were assigned to 28 subjects. As a result of the study, the integrated program for prevention of dementia showed that the experimental group was more effective as the self-practice program than the control group. Therefore, This program is considered to be a self-practice integrated dementia prevention program. In the future, this program should be revised and supplemented and extended to the local community, So it is necessary to seek a nursing intervention strategy that subjects can continuously practice.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.111-119
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• 2018

This study was conducted to evaluate the converge effects of the Be Happy and Strong (BeHaS) exercise program on female elders living alone, using a nonequivalent control-group pretest-posttest design. The BeHaS exercise program was conducted twice each week for 4 weeks (total 8 sessions). The outcome measures included pain, shoulder flexibility, grip strength, depression, and suicidal ideation. Independent t-test, Chi-squre test, paired t-tests and ANCOVA were used for the statistical data analysis. A statistically significant improvement emerged in pain (t=4.044, p=.000) and right and left shoulder flexibility (t=2.192, p=.038 and t=2.568, p=.016) 4 weeks later. In a group comparison, a statistically significant difference arose in changed scores of suicidal ideation (F=7.32, p=.010) between groups. The BeHaS exercise program may effectively improve the physical and psychological health of female elders living alone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1018-1027
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate nutrients intake and health-related behaviors in elderly people residing in Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk who have no problem in daily living. Information on general characteristics of the elderly, health-related behaviors and dietary habits were obtained by interview based on questionnare. Dietary nutrients intake data were obtained through the 24 recall method. The subject group of this study was composed of 113 males and 112 females, the average age being $73.1\pm6.06$ years old. In health related factors, $76.9\%$ of subjects exercised regularly. The rates of alcohol drinking and smoking showed to be $38.2\%\;and\;22.2\%$, respectively. There were many elderly with neuralgia, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disease, especially female were worse. Average heights of the subjects were lower than the standard established in the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances, and average weights were similar to the standards. The mean BMI and WHR were 24.8 (male 23.7, female 25.7) and 0.92 (male 0.92, female 0.89), respectively. Most of the subjects had a regular meal pattern comsuming three meals a day, and many elderly, especially more than $79.5\%$ of female, prepared the meals for themselves. Mean daily energy intakes and RDA percentage of energy intakes of the male and female subjects were estimated as 1426.9kcal $(79.3\%)$ and 1381.3 kcal $(86.3\%)$, respectively. Mean daily intakes of nutrients were estimatied as 48.1g for protein, 411.3mg for calcium, 8.05mg for iron, 541.8 R.E. for vitamin A, 0.84mg for vitamin $B_1$, and 0.79mg for vitamin $B_2$. Most nutrients except protein, clacium, iron and vitamin $B_2$ were consumed over $75\%$ of the RDA. Female elderly showed significant lower intakes (p<0.05) for most of the nutrients except calcium, phosphorus and vitamin ethan the elderly male.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.620-629
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to assess dietary habits and seasonal variation and diversity of food intakes of elderly women living alone as compared to those of elderly women living with family in a rural area. Forty nine elderly women living alone and forty one elderly women living with family who reside in Goryeong-gun, Gyeongbuk, were interviewed using questionnaires in summer 2005, and their food intakes were assessed secondly in winter and thirdly in spring 2006. The average ages were 74.7 years for elderly living alone and 72.8 years for elderly living with family. Tooth status and bone fracture experience were similar between the groups. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disease was 61.2% and that of circulatory disease was 32.7% of the subjects. Average of total score of mental depression of the subjects was 5.94 out of 12 points, and it was not significantly different between the two groups. Skipping meals was more frequent and mealtime was more irregular in the elderly women living alone as compared with the elderly women living with family. Consumption of dietary supplements was also less in the elderly women living alone. Food intakes by the elderly women living alone tended to be lower than those by the elderly women living with family. Dietary diversity score was significantly lower with the elderly women living alone as compared with the elderly women living with family only in summer (p < 0.01). Percentages of the subjects who have taken meat group and vegetable group were significantly lower in the elderly living alone compared with the elderly living with family during summer. Therefore, it is necessary to develop food assistance or supporting program suited for the season within a community for elderly women living alone.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.515-525
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a customized health promotion program (CHPP) on depression, cognitive functioning, and physical health of elderly women living alone in the community. Methods: A randomized comparison of pre-and post-test design was used with 62 participants assigned to either an intervention (n=32 in seven clusters) or a control group (n=30 in seven clusters) in 14 areas of a town. The final sample included 30 intervention participants who completed the CHPP for 10 weeks, and 26 control participants. The intervention group participated in the CHPP weekly; they were provided with instructions about coping with their chronic illnesses, lifestyle modification, risk management, providing emotional support to each other, and floor-seated exercise, which they were encouraged to do three times a week in their homes. Results: Significant group differences were found in depression (U=48.50, p<.001), cognitive functioning (U=2.50, p<.001), left arm flexibility (U=251.50, p=.023), right arm flexibility (U=225.00, p=.007), static balance (U=237.00, p=.012), and gait ability (U=190.50, p=.004). However, there were no significant differences in bothgrip strength and muscle mass between the two groups. Conclusion: The findings indicate that CHPP was overall effective at improving depression, cognitive functioning, and physical functioning of elderly women living alone, and could therefore be considered a positive program for community-dwelling elderly women living alone.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.277-288
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• 2015

Purpose: As the rate of senior citizens living alone increases in the current aging society, there is much concern regarding the health and nutritional intake of solitary senior citizens. Therefore, this study compared the nutritional intake of senior citizens according to their family type. Methods: In July and August of 2011, two senior citizen welfare centers in Seoul were visited to survey 267 elderly women. Excluding 54 subjects for which the data were incomplete, information from 213 subjects was analyzed. The subjects were divided into three family types, living alone (LA, n = 74), living with spouse (LS, n = 78), and living with children (LC, n = 61). Results: The mean age of the LA group was the highest, while the mean age of the LS group was the lowest (p < 0.001), and WHR of the LC group was the highest (p = 0.049). Income was the highest in the LS group (p < 0.001). Frequency of eating out was the lowest in the LA group (p = 0.031). By Duncan's multiple analysis, the amounts of energy intake, vegetable protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, Vit D, Vit E, $Vit\;B_2$, niacin, $Vit\;B_6$, $Vit\;B_{12}$, and cholesterol were significantly higher in the LS group compared with the LA or LC group (p < 0.05). The intakes of calcium, Vit D, $Vit\;B_{12}$, and cholesterol were still significantly different among the three groups, even after adjustment for age and monthly income. The LA group ate less fruit and fish than the LS or LC group (p < 0.05). The LA group showed the lowest dietary diversity and the LS group showed the highest diversity (p = 0.014), however, the significance of dietary diversity score among the three groups disappeared after adjustment for age and monthly income. Conclusion: Elderly women living with spouse were receiving better nutrition than elderly women living alone or living with children. Therefore, solitary elderly women who do not live with their spouse or children should be offered greater opportunities to receive a balanced meal at a congregational kitchen or welfare center. To ensure their healthy diet, it is essential to provide continuous nutrition education with these groups in mind.