• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.51
• /
• pp.141-156
• /
• 2002

The relation among social support, depressive symptoms, and living arrangements were examined in a non-random sample of 175 adults age 60 and older. A convenience sample was obtained through a personal interview. A structural equation modeling approach was used to explore the role of social support in the relation between the living arrangements of elderly Koreans and their level of depressive symptoms. These results are consistent with previous analyses suggesting that social support plays a significant role in moderating depressive symptoms, in relation to negative living arrangements among older Korean populations (the buffering-effect hypothesis).

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.157-170
• /
• 1990

본 연구는 미 L-A에 거주하는 한국이민 노인들의 특성을 파악하고, 그들의 생활만족도에 기여하는 결정요소들이 무엇인지 가려내며, 그 얻어진 결과를, 동일한 시각과 접근으로 시도되었던 미국 노인들에 대한 선행연구들의 결과와 비교 분석하였다. 연구는 1986년 12월에서 1987년 2월까지 3개월간 미 L-A 카운티에서 거주하는 55세 이상의 한국 이민노인 390명을 대상으로 설문지 조사를 실시하여 그중 192명을 자료분석에 사용하였다. 단계별 중다 회귀분석의 결과, 활동성의 제약정도, 결혼상태, 재정적인 안정, 교육정도, 연령증가 등 5가지 변인들의 특별히 한국노인의 생활만족도가 강한 연관성이 있었고, 반면 자신들이 평가한 건강상태, 지인과의 사회적인 상호작용, 미국거주 년한 등은 노후생활의 안녕에 전혀 직접적인 영향력을 행사하지 못했다. 그러나 자신들이 평가하는 건강상태는, 활동성의 제약 등과 같은 다른 변인에 미치는 효과를 통해서 생활만족도에 간접적으로 강하게 영향을 미치고 있었다. 이러한 결과를 선행연구에서 나타난 서구나 미국노인의 생활만족도 결정의 세 요인인 건강상태, 사회경제적 지위, 사회적 활동성과 비교해 볼때, 사회적 활동성과 연령증가 변인에서 서로 상반되는 대조를 보이고 있었다. 즉, 백인노인들은 나이가 듦에 따라 생활만족도가 낮아지거나 혹은, 연령증가와 생활만족도 사이에 별로 유의할 만한 관계를 보이지 않고 있으나, 본 연구에서의 한국노인은 나이를 먹으면서 오히려 생활만족도가 높은 것으로 나타났다. 한편, 사회적 활동성은, 백인노인의 생활만족도에 긍정적 혹을 부정적으로 가장 강하게 영향을 미치는 요인중 하나임에 반하여, 한국노인들은 이것이 자신들의 생활만족에 중요한 것이라 믿고는 있었지만 실제 통계학적으로는 영향력을 행사하지 못하는 요인이었다. 주거환경(자식과의 동거여부) 역시, 이제껏 한국사회에서 기대되어왔던 통념과는 달리, 한국노인의 생활만족도에 아무런 영향을 주지 못하고 있었다.

• Proceedings of The Korean Society of Health Promotion Conference
• /
• 2000.11a
• /
• pp.185-186
• /
• 2000

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.667-675
• /
• 2003

Purpose: This study was purposed to provide basic data for developing future health promotion programs by comparing health-promoting behavior, life satisfaction and self-esteem between the Korean elderly and the American-Korean elderly. Methods: The subjects were volunteer participants of 120 elders in the Gyeongsan City in Korea and 120 elders in the state of Washington in the U.S. Tools used in this study were Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (47 items), Life Satisfaction Scale (20 items) and Self-Esteem Scale (10 items). To analyze data, this study used frequency, percentage, chi-square test, t-test, Kendal tau test, Pearson's correlation coefficient with SPSS program. Results: 1) The average score of health-promoting behaviors was 3.21 in Koreans and 3.50 in American-Koreans, showing a significant difference between the two groups. 2) The sub-scales that got the highest score of health-promoting behaviors were self-actualization and nutrition(M=3.41) in Koreans and nutrition(M=3.61) in American-Koreans, and that with the lowest score was exercise in both groups(2.89 in Koreans and 3.02 in American-Koreans). 3) The average score for life satisfaction was 2.76 in Koreans and 3.06 in American-Koreans, showing a significant difference between the two groups. 4) The average score for self-esteem was 3.39 in Koreans and 3.09 in American-Koreans, showing a insignificant difference between the two groups. 5) Health-promoting behaviors were positively related to life satisfaction and self-esteem. Life satisfaction was positively related to self-esteem in both groups. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, the health-promoting behaviors of Korean and American-Korean elders strongly correlated with life satisfaction and self-esteem. Therefore, health promoting programs that enhance life satisfaction and self-esteem should be developed in order to promote the elderly's healthy lifestyle.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.6685-6693
• /
• 2014

This study was designed to identify the relationships among powerlessness, self-esteem and depression in Korean-American immigrant elderly. The purpose was to provide baseline data for nursing intervention to improve their health. The results showed that depression was significantly correlated with self-esteem and powerlessness, self-esteem was also significantly correlated with powerlessness. Powerlessness was different from the level of education and health conditions. Self-esteem was significantly different to the frequency of family visits. Depression was significantly different from age. 50.0% of depression was explained by powerlessness and self-esteem. This suggests that a higher level of powerlessness and a lower level of self-esteem are associated with a higher the level of depression. In conclusion, to improve the psychological health of Korean-American immigrant elderly, it is crucial to consider age, the level of education and health conditions, and continually manage the levels of powerlessness and self-esteem.

• Korea journal of population studies
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.99-134
• /
• 1997

The purpose of this study is to examine major factors that affect patterns of living arrangements of older Korean noncitizens in the United States using the 1990 8% Public Use Microdata Sample(PUMS). In order to do so, I analyzed the effects of four factors including acculturation(English proficiency and Age at migration), economic circumstances(Personal Income and Supplemental Security Income: SSI receipt), health status(Mobility and Personal care limitation), and the ethnic community. The results show that acculturation and economic circumstances play an important role in determining the patterns of living arrangements among older Korean aliens, whereas the health status and the ethnic community do not show consistent effects. Regardless of marital status, the impact of age at migration is positively associated with solitary living of older Korean noncitizens, though, the effect of English proficiency show the opposite direction in accordance with marital status. That is, among nonmarried elders, those who cannot speak English are more likely to live alone. The case is reverse for married elders. The impact of economic feasibility is also positively associated with independent living arrangements. Those who receive SSI are much more likely to live apart from family, and elders whose annual personal income between $5, 001 and $10, 000 have the greatest propensity of solitary living-a large proportion of their income source is SSI. Individuals who receive SSI are also qualified to collect Medicaid, food stamps, rent subsidies, and other welfare benefits. In a sense, the economic feasibility provided by welfare benefits is the key determinant of independent living of older Korean noncitizens. Therefore, the recent welfare reform which denies legal aliens welfare benefits such as SSI and food stamps will severly affect the present living arrangements of older Korean aliens, and give economic burden to their family member The findings also show that there are significant differences within the elderly Korean Americans in terms of demographics, income, fertility, health status, and patterns of living arrangements by U.S. citizenship status. In particular, after controlling for age at migration as a proxy for acculturation, there is a statistically significant variation in living arrangements between elderly Korean noncitizens and naturalized citizens. For both theoretical and methodological reasons, future research on minority aging needs to investigate the concept of U.S. citizenship status for its impact on patterns of living arrangements among the minority elderly.

• Korea journal of population studies
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.58-81
• /
• 1987

The purpose of this study is to examine major factors that affect patterns of living arrangements of older Korean noncitizens in the United States using the 1990 8% Public Use Microdata Sample(PUMS). In order to do so, I analyzed the effects of four factors including acculturation(English proficiency and Age at migration), economic circumstances(Personal Income and Supplemental Security Income: SSI receipt), health status(Mobility and Personal care limitation), and the ethnic community. The results show that acculturation and economic circumstances play an important role in determining the patterns of living arrangements among older Korean aliens, whereas the health status and the ethnic community do not show consistent effects. Regardless of marital status, the impact of age at migration is positively associated with solitary living of older Korean noncitizens, though, the effect of English proficiency show the opposite direction in accordance with marital status. That is, among nonmarried elders, those who cannot speak English are more likely to live alone. The case is reverse for married elders. The impact of economic feasibility is also positively associated with independent living arrangements. Those who receive SSI are much more likely to live apart from family, and elders whose annual personal income between $5,001 and $10,000 have the greatest propensity of solitary living-a large proportion of their income source is SSI. Individuals who receive SSI are also qualified to collect Medicaid, food stamps, rent subsidies, and other welfare benefits. In a sense, the economic feasibility provided by welfare benefits is the key determinant of independent living of older Korean noncitizens. Therefore, the recent welfare reform which denies legal aliens welfare benefits such as SSI and food stamps will severly affect the present living arrangements of older Korean aliens, and give economic burden to their family member The findings also show that there are significant differences within the elderly Korean Americans in terms of demographics, income, fertility, health status, and patterns of living arrangements by U.S. citizenship status. In particular, after controlling for age at migration as a proxy for acculturation, there is a statistically significant variation in living arrangements between elderly Korean noncitizens and naturalized citizens. For both theoretical and methodological reasons, future research on minority aging needs to investigate the concept of U.S. citizenship status for its impact on patterns of living arrangements among the minority elderly.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.72-86
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the suicide ideation and survival experience of Korean elders in America. Methods: A phenomenological research method guided data collection and analysis. A total of five elders reported having had suicide ideation participated. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews. All interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Coding was used to establish different concepts and categories. Results: The following three constituents have been identified: retrospective focus based on the suicide ideation through the immigrant life, facing reality through comparison between the life in America and in Korea, survival skills and constructing view of life. Conclusion: The result of this study may contribute for health professionals working at various crisis settings to understand Korean immigrant elders with suicide ideation.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.175-182
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The present study was designed to explore and compare attributes of the quality of life between Korean elderly and Korean-American elderly. Method: The research design was a descriptive design and questionaries were used. Studies were done using questionnaires. Data were collected from convenient sample of 163 Korean elderly and 151 Korean-American elderly recruited from senior centers and churches. Collected data were analyzed by using SPSS/WIN 10.0. Results: There were significant difference between Korean elderly and Korean-American elderly in education and income. Korean-American elderly showed higher selfesteem, self-efficacy, and quality of life than those of Korean elderly. The influencing factors on quality of life in Korean elderly were defined as self-esteem and self-efficacy. And the influencing factor on quality of life in Korean-American elderly was defined as self-efficacy. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of this study showed that self-efficacy was a very important factor as attribution to the quality of life for both elderly group. Therefore, self-efficacy should be promoted in nursing intervention in order to enhance the quality of life for both Korean and Korean-American elderly.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.801-821
• /
• 2020

There are a number of prior studies on the poverty experience of Korean women, but little is known about the poverty experience of Korean elderly women in the U.S. The purpose of this study is to examine the poverty experiences of Korean elderly women who immigrated to the U. S. Qualitative case study methods were used to achieve these research objectives. Three Korean elderly women living in Oakland of California who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the U.S. federal government were included in the study. The data were collected by conducting a total of six meetings per participant, and the researcher read the consent form directly to the participants and obtained a hand-written signature. The analysis and interpretation began by repeating the interview transcript several times, and the repeated keywords were to be understood in the context, focusing on time, space, and relationships with other people. The contextual understanding of Korean elderly women's experiences in poverty was interpreted in three dimensions: extending poverty in their mother country, double torture as female immigrants, and limiting labor due to aging and diseases. Before moving to the U.S., they had a difficult livelihood by farming and one of them had to live in poverty due to the bereavement to her husband. But even after moving to the U.S., they have continued to live in poverty. As female immigrants with low education and no special skills, they were incorporated into the periphery of the labor market in the industrialized U.S. and were forced to make a living with low wages. Korean elderly women were unable to return to the labor market in the surrounding areas due to aging and diseases, and were continuing their impoverished lives relying on SSI. From the findings, we discussed the role of the Korean immigrants community as a way to improve the quality of life for Korean elderly women in the U.S.