• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.143-155
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• 2011

Disabled elderly faced with disability and the aged problems at the same time. So, this research creates two research questions and examines. First research question is how nine dimensions of daily life satisfaction according to gender difference. Second research question is how the factor of daily life satisfaction by gender difference. The data is sixty-five disabled elderly, 386 among Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled(PSED, 2008). The methods of analysis for identifying research questions is t-test and multiple linear regression. The result of analysis on first research question, the gender difference six dimensions among nine dimensions of daily life satisfaction come out statistically significant. And The result of analysis on second research question, come out statistically significant, too. Socioeconomic status: the lower class, physical condition: bad health, chronic disease is or not, family and other people's social supports, disability: serious turn out to be factors in common. It has been suggested social policies from the results of studies that the provision of health support policy and program, enlarge assistance on daily life, support system on serious disabled elderly. On the other hand, analysis showed that distinctive factors between disabled elderly man and woman was age and education level. In other words, disabled elderly woman come out into the open that the more grow old, the less daily life satisfaction low, while disabled elderly man appeared higher daily life satisfaction in case of junior and senior high school graduate than uneducated.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.415-427
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• 2019

This study examined the effects of eating with others on depressive symptoms among the community-dwelling older adults by family arrangement, using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 7th (2016). A total of 1,233 older adults aged over 65 was included in this analysis. Eating status (alone / with others) and family arrangement (living alone / living with family) were dichotomized based on the original questionnaire. Among 955 older adults who live with family members, 855 persons (89.5%) eat together and 100 persons (10.5%) eat alone. Among 278 older adults who live alone, 86 persons (30.9%) eat together and 69 persons (69.1%) eat alone. Regression analysis controlling for demographic and health related factors, eating with others was significantly related to lower levels of depressive symptoms in the group of older adults who live with family members (β = -1.663, p <.001), while there is no statistical significance (β = -0.856, p = .148) in the counterpart. Therefore, various types of community-based programs need to be developed to encourage older adults to eat with other in their ordinary lives. It is also recommended that the community has to offer consistent care and support for the elderly particularly who live alone.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.788-805
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to verify the impact of Habitat for Humanity Korea's disaster risk reduction intervention on the mental health and satisfaction with life among residents of southern Bangladesh who had constantly suffered from disaster stress due to perennial flooding. Method: The target group was 138 residents who were pre-surveyed in August 2020 and post-surveyed in November 2021. The interventions consisted of individual incremental housing, public facilities for evacuation, and disaster response training for capacity development. The data were analysed using paired sample t-tests for pre-post changes and one-way analysis of variance to identify differences between treatment groups. Result: The results showed significant improvements in residents' depression, anxiety, somatisation and satisfaction with life after the intervention, with significant differences in mental health levels between the intervention treatments. Specifically, relatively higher disaster mitigation effects were found for individual infrastructure improvements and employment facilities compared to disaster response drills. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the positive role of Habitat for Humanity Korea's disaster risk reduction interventions on the mental health recovery of disaster victims and suggest practical approaches that can be applied in disaster risk areas.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.121-131
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• 2004

Objectives: This study was conducted to understand the status of influenza vaccination in some rural communities and to apply the results to formulate a counterplan for influenza prevention. Methods: The authors conducted a questionnaire survey from May 26 to May 29, 2003 among the residents in two rural communities: 602 people at the village Gigye-myeon and 965 at the village Cheongsong-gun. For statistical analysis the chi-square test and chi-square for trend method were used. Significance was set a p<0.05. Results: The study group contained 722 (46.1%) males and 845 (53.9%) females. In response to the question 'Influenza vaccination must be taken every year', 845 people (86.0%) replied 'Yes'. In response to the question 'Influenza vaccination can prevent cold', 224 people (20.8%) replied 'No'. The rate of influenza vaccination increased every year from 2000 to 2002 (p<0.05) and was lower for those under sixty-four than for those over sixty-five. In response to the question 'Plan to receive influenza vaccination in 2003', 531 people (52.8%) responded they will have influenza vaccination. Conclusions: Many people had a wrong perception about influenza vaccination. Therefore, their wrong perception must be corrected by a publicity campaign. The rate of influenza vaccination for those from over fifty to under sixty-four should be increased by public policy because they are as susceptible to influenza as those over sixty-five. This study produced meaningful results from the investigation into the status of influenza vaccination for the residents in rural communities and these findings can be utilized in the formulation of future influenza vaccination policy.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.213-246
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• 2016

Algific talus slopes tend to occur on steep north-facing slopes with bedrock that retains ice and emits cold air throughout the growing season. Algific talus slopes provide a suitable microclimate for disjunct or relict populations of northern plant species at low altitude habitats in temperate zones. The purpose of this study is to suggest a strategy for the comprehensive conservation of the vegetation of algific talus slopes through studies of the floristics and plant species compositions and threat factors at present and in the future of 15 major algific talus slopes in Korea. As a result, the vascular plants surveyed on 15 major algific talus slopes were recorded, with a total of 587 taxa, 109 families, 323 genera, 531 species, 7 subspecies, 47 varieties 1 form and 1 hybrid. Of them, endemic plants numbered 26 taxa, and threatened species according to the IUCN valuation basis numbered 8 taxa. Fourth (IV) and fifth (V) degree indicator species as specified by floristic subregions numbered 31 taxa. Peculiarly, several subalpine-native plant species, in this case Cystopteris fragilis, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Huperzia selago, Rosa koreana, Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Woodsia hancockii, were distributed on algific talus slopes at 100-600 m above sea level. Numerous and diverse biological resources native to algific talus slopes in Korea have been consistently disturbed or damaged by human activities without some form of protection. An all-taxa biodiversity inventory should be surveyed to provide more information about all biological species living on algific talus slopes. In addition, conservation strategies to ensure biodiversity and effective management of algific talus slopes are discussed in detail.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1366-1374
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• 2016

Most elderly have difficulties in managing food safety and nutrition by themselves. Various nutrition educations for the elderly have been developed, but food safety and nutrition education program and educational tools for the elderly are very limited. The aim of the study was to evaluate a food safety and nutrition education program based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) for the elderly. Education program was implemented for 220 seniors (137 educated group and 83 control group) aged over 65 years at senior welfare community centers. The intervention study was carried out on a weekly basis during each of 5 weeks, and each session lasted about 35 or 40 minutes. The effectiveness of the program was assessed with a questionnaire before and after education. Education program consisted of a 5 week program, and topics were 'Dietary changes for the elderly's healthy life', 'Prevention of food poisoning in everyday life', 'Safe food handling for my health', 'Healthy dietary life to prevent chronic disease', and 'Safety! nutrition! healthy dietary life'. Education program materials such as slides, handouts, videos, leaflet, and booklets were developed. As a result, there were score improvements in knowledge, dietary behaviors, and health belief after intervention in the intervention group, which were higher than those of the control group. In particular, there was a meaningful interrelation between dietary behavior and health belief (r=0.520, P<0.001). This finding suggests that changing beliefs is very important to make desirable dietary behavioral changes. For this reason, we can conclude HBM theory is an effective model to educate nutrition and food safety for the elderly. Furthermore, food safety and nutrition education programs are implemented and delivered continuously at various settings such as a health center or community welfare center, and those will contribute significantly to enhance perception and change their desirable dietary behaviors for the elderly.

• 한국노년학
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.525-540
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate what kind of experiences the deaf elderly would have in the course of life. It also aimed to promote the understanding of their living difficulties and culture among people with normal hearing and provide basic data to help them live with others as members of the community. Phenomenological qualitative research was conducted as part of the methodology. The subjects include seven deaf old people. Based on the results of in-depth interview and analysis, the life experiences of the deaf elderly were categorized into "unforgettable wounds," "life in the community," "life with the family," "marriage of the deaf elderly", and "living by adjusting to reality." First, the subcategories of "unforgettable wounds" include "receiving no treatment for fever," "damage by the Korean War," "alienation from the family," and "people's cold eyes." It turned out that the deaf elderly had led a life, suffering from the heart wounds that they could not forget. Second, the subcategories of "life in the community" include "inconvenience in life," "disadvantages in life," and "severed life." The deaf elderly were not only subjected to inconvenience and disadvantages in life, but also suffered loneliness, being cut off from the community. Third, the subcategories of "life with the family" include "not communicating with children," "being abandoned again," "being used by the family," "being lonely even with the family," and "wishing to live independently from the family." The deaf elderly were not supported by their families and were abandoned or used by them, leading a solitary life. Fourth, the subcategories of "marriage of the deaf elderly" include"send as a surrogate mother," "frequent remarriage and divorce," "lean on as a married couple." Deaf elderly form their own culture of the marriage and lean on each other. Finally, the subcategories of "living by adjusting to reality" include "getting help from neighbors," "behaving oneself right in life," "learning Hangul," "living by working," "living freely," "living by missing," and "controlling the impulse to end life," "resorting to religion." The deaf elderly made the most alienated and vulnerable group with no access to benefits due to their limitations as a linguistic and social minority, but they made efforts to form their own culture and adjust to reality for themselves. Based on those findings, the study made the following proposals: first, there is a need for practical approaches to heal the ineffaceable wounds in the hearts of deaf elderly. Second, there is a need for policies to help them experience no inconvenience and disadvantages as members of community and communicate with people with normal hearing. Third, there should be practical approaches to enable them to get recognition and support from their families and share love with them. Finally, there should be practical policy approaches to help people with normal hearing understand the culture of deaf elderly and assist the deaf elderly to receive supports from the community and live with others within the community.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.149-162
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• 2024

This study is a longitudinal study of female older adults living alone, one of the most vulnerable groups in our society, to determine how their depression changes over time and what factors affect their depression. At the same time, considering that there is a large difference in age among the same older adults, this study divided the female older adults into the young-old and the old-old to see how the predictors of depression in each group differ from each other. The main findings are as follows First, depression among female older adults living alone appears to have a declining pattern over time. In the conditional model, factors affecting the initial level of the depression trajectory among women living alone were found to be associated with lower initial depression values among those living in metropolitan areas rather than non-metropolitan areas, better subjective health, and those who did not exercise. Next, we examined the factors affecting rate of change (slope) in depression among female living alone older adults and found that the higher the age, the larger the metropolitan area, the better the subjective health, the less socializing, and the more socializing, the greater the decrease in depression level. Finally, there were some differences in the pathways affecting the initial value and slope of depression among female older adults living alone between the early and late older adults. Specifically, the higher the initial level of participation in social activities, the greater the change in depression among the late older adults, while there was no significant relationship among the early older adults. In the early older adults, better initial subjective health was associated with a larger change in depression than in the late older adults. Only in the late older adults did those who regularly exercised in the early years have higher initial depression values than those who did not. Based on the results of the above analyses, suggestions were made to reduce depression among female older adults living alone.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 2004

Objectives: This study was to identify socioeconomic factors and health-related behaviors influencing on HRQOL(health-related quality of life) for the older adults in rural area. Methods: 483 subjects aged over 65 years responded a direct interview, which covered HRQOL, BMI, socioeconomic characteristics, and health-related behaviors including smoking, drinking, and exercise. Results: Overall, the mean number of healthy days were 15.1 days and not significantly different by sex. Men didn't show a significant difference in HRQOL by age group. But women reported lower levels of healthy days and higher levels of activity limitation and physical unhealthy days with increasing age. Results from ANCOVA showed HRQOL to be significantly associated with education, job, and family type. Men presented no significant difference in HRQOL by health-related behaviors, but women who have been drinking, or have less number of chronic diseases reported higher mean healthy days and lower activity limitation days, physical unhealthy days, and mental unhealthy days. Older adults who reported good to excellent self-rated health were higher healthy days and lower activity limitation, physical unhealthy days, and mental unhealthy days than those who reported fair to poor health status. Conclusions: The HRQOL for the older adults in rural area was related to socioeconomic characteristics, health-related behaviors and self-rated health status. A better understanding of factors related to HRQOL would help to improve the older adults' quality of life.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.16-38
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• 1994

The spatial structure of Korea has been changed drastically during the second half of this century. The events such as the Korean War and the resultant division of the Korean Peninsular into two Koreas, rapid industrialization and urbanization are the major causes among others for the spatial changes of the nation. The changes in turn have spawned a number of spatial problems. It is time, we argue, to diagnose how much the nation is now ill-structured, and to discuss of which directions the long-term spatial management be reoriented. A delphi survey was conducted during the early 1993 to fulfill such research needs. Questionnaires were distributed among geographers, planners, and high governmental officials throughout the nation. These 'experts of spatial problems' were requested to evaluate the past spatial policies and strategies, and to identify spatial and environmental problems at the national, regional and local levels. The survey included questions with regard to the spatial problems in North Korea too. A complementary literature survey in the fields of spatial sciences was accomplished as well in order to identify the major research interests and issues with regard to the nations's spatial structure. The delphi survey results indicatee that the present spatial structure: in relation to consumption, housing and economic activities is satisfactory in overall, while rather poor in terms of education, leisure and community activities. Most of the experts consider infrastructural improvements are urgent in the areas of roads, waste disposal facilitles, railroads, harbors, water supply and drainage systems. The over-concentration of economic, social and political function in the Seoul Metropolitan Region is perceived to be the most serious spatial problem in Korea. The long-term solutions suggested are strategies toward a more balanced regional development as well as toward a cleaner environment. The concensus among the experts for the short-term solution is the redistribution of population and industries from the Seoul Metropolitan Region to the intermediate and small cities. The land use policies and concurrent large-scale infrastructural projects are evaluated largely pertinent and desirable in general. It is, however, suggested that development projects be conducted in a more harmonious way with environment. The survey respondents suggest that the present environmental management policies should be reexamined critically. With regard to regional and local problems, transportation and pollutions are thought to be most serious in the Seoul Metropolitan Region, while employment opportunities, and information, education and health care services are most deprived in small cities and rural areas. The majority of the experts consider a city size of 250, 000-500, 000 population is desirable to live within. Respondents beileve that North Korea's physical environment is still not aggravated much whereas its infrastructural provisions are largely pool. The co-authors of this research figure a "environmentaly sound and spatially balanced Korean Penninsular" as the ideal type of spatial structure in Korea. The basic guidelines toward this ideal prototype are suggested: the recovery of spetial integrity, progressive restructuring of the nation, land uses geared to public welfare rather than private interests, and eco-humanistic approach in spatial policies.