• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.65-72
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• 2007

What is the meaning of home to older people? How much is home significant for older people? How do they express self-identity through decorating their own homes? These are the new subjects that scholars in the West are involved in lately in terms of micro-perspective (George, 1998; Kellett, Gilroy & Jason, 2005; Gilroy & Kellett, 2006). It is evident that home has more significant meaning to older people than other age groups, since the older are more likely to spend greater time within the home through lower income, lessening mobility or loss of companions (Gilroy, 2005). Also the older tend to cling to their homes and attach to possessions than the younger. Older people's possessions are the things that memories of their lives were absorbed. Therefore, possession display can role as a mean of showing their past lives and memories. Gilroy and her colleagues (2005, 2006) found that there was a certain pattern of possession display in English older people's households, and that older people would like to express self-identity through decorating their own homes with their precious possessions. Then, isn't it interesting to find out if there is any pattern of possession display or decoration items in Korean older people's households as well? Thus, the aim of this study is to describe pattern of possession display as a mean of expressing self-identity in Korean older people's households. Interview with older people was used to find out the way and reason of display possessions. Observation method including taking photos and hand-drawings was also added in order to demonstrate detail condition of display items in the house. Possessions display and furniture arrangement in the living room and bedroom were investigated to find out a certain pattern of display and meaning. Research objects were healthy older people aged over 60, who are living independently from their adult children, and who can manage housekeeping by themselves. 32 households were investigated in the area of Seoul, Kyunggi, Chungchungnam, and Kangwon provinces. The findings demonstrate that most precious possession for Korean older people is photo of themselves; especially one taken in their younger age. The reason of it is because the photo reminds them of their heydays when they were vital. Photo of the most beloved one is displayed more frequently in the bedroom than in the living room indicating consistence with English case. As symmetrical display pattern was dominant in case of English older people's households, no dominant display pattern is found in Korean case. Korean older people also cling to their homes and possessions and want to keep their dwelling space as large as what they use now. It is notable that even after they become older and frail, they want sufficient space to display possessions as a mean of self-identity expression. Attachment to possessions and decoration can give older people significant meaning of identity, and it is the reason why architects or interior designers have to meet older people's needs. It needs consideration that residents are allowed to bring their old furniture and precious possessions when they move in elderly housing unit in order to minimize environmental shock, as well as feeling at home. This subject could suggest a clue to designers or architects who have to meet residents' needs in space design of elderly housing or facilities in the future. Psychological well-being of older people can be met by making them feel at home wherever they live. They need space where they can express their own identity and personality even in case when they have to live in a limited small space like elderly housing unit or nursing home.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.561-584
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• 2021

This study was conducted to classify 601 Korean adults into latent classes according to their love types and identify the differences in depression and find variables that affect the latent classes classification. As a result of the latent class analysis, the latent group for love types of Korean adults were classified into the L-H (7.7%) group, which showed the highest level of all three factors of intimacy, passion, and commitment, and the L-MH (33.6%) group, which all three factors were higher than the average, the L-M (39.8%) group with the mean of all three factors, the L-ML (14.6%) group with all three factors lower than the mean, and the L-L (4.3%) group with the lowest all three factors. Also, as a result of ANOVA, the L-MH group was psychologically healthier and more adaptive than the L-ML group. As a result of multinomial logistic analysis, females were more likely to belong to L-M, L-ML and L-L groups than males. In addition, singles were more likely to belong to the L-M and L-ML groups than those who were married. Also, the higher the anxiety attachment level, the higher the likelihood of belonging to the L-M, L-ML, and L-L groups than the L-H and L-MH groups, the L-ML and L-L groups than the L-M groups, and the L-L group rather than the L-ML groups. However, age, neuroticism, and emotional regulation did not affect the classification of latent classes. This study is meaningful in that it identified the various latent classes for the love types of Korean adults more three-dimensionally and suggested the possibility of differential interventions according to the characteristics of each group.