• 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 Rural Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was aimed to compare health promotion behaviors and safety consciousness for elderly women living alone in rural areas and elderly women in group homes, and then provide information for the development of safety awareness programs for elderly. Methods: The participants were 120 elderly women living alone in rural areas aged 65 or older and 120 elderly women living in group homes. The data collection was conducted during November 2020, and the collected data used the SPSS/WIN 25.0 program to verify frequency, percentage, average, standard deviation, and independent t test. Results: There were significant differences of health promotion behaviors between elderly women living alone and elderly women in group homes (t=15.77, p<.001). In addition, there were significant differences of safety consciousness between elderly women living alone and elderly women in group homes (t=21.42, p<.001). Conclusion: Since the safety consciousness and health promotion behaviors of the elderly in group homes are significantly higher than that of the elderly living alone, various programs should be developed to improve the safety consciousness and health promotion behaviors in the elderly living alone. Based on local government' acts, continuous support and attention is needed that elderly women in group homes can maintain a healthy life.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2007

For the rapidly growing elderly population, the achievement and maintenance of good nutritional status is critical to health, functioning and quality of life. Elderly women living alone have been identified as a group associated with poor nutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess dietary intakes of elderly women living alone as compared to those of elderly women living with family in a rural area and to examine seasonal variation. The subjects are 49 elderly women living alone and 41 elderly women living with family who reside in Goryeong-gun, Gyeongbuk, and their food intakes were assessed once each time in summer 2005, winter 2005-2006, and spring 2006. The average ages were 74.7 years for living alone and 72.8 years for living with family. Education level was not different between the two groups. Height, weight, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and fasting blood glucose were not significantly different between the two groups. Average intakes of major nutrients, nutrient adequacy ratio, mean adequacy ratio and index of nutritional quality were lower in the elderly women living alone compared with the elderly women living with family in summer, but the differences in intakes of most nutrients became insignificant both in winter and in spring. High carbohydrate and low fat diet was prevalent and intakes of carbohydrate and fat in summer deviated from macronutrient acceptable distribution ranges. Percentages of the subjects who consumed energy less than 75% of the estimated energy requirement and nutrients less than the estimated average requirement were higher than those reported by the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In summer, the percentage of the subjects who consumed energy less than both 75% of the estimated energy requirement and 4 nutrients less than estimated average requirements was 58.5% of the elderly women living alone, which was higher than 26.5% of the elderly women living with family and that of National Nutrition Survey. Therefore, nutrition policies including nutrition education and support are necessary to improve nutritional status of elderly, especially elderly women living alone and should reflect regional and seasonal characteristics.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1095-1101
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• 1997

The present paper resents information on the dietary intake and biochemical status of elderly who are living in different types of residence. On hundred and sixty five women(age 65-80 years old) were divided into three groups ; those who are living alone (LA) , living with family (LF) , and living in institutions (LI) within the same general community. Nutrient intake, body fat content, and biochemical measurements in blood and urine were examined statistically and potential environment-related influence are discussed. Elderly women living alone had significantly lower intake of nutrients than elderly women were not living alone LF group showed significantly higher fat consumption than LA and LI groups. Body fat content, plasma albumin and calcium levels in elderly women who lived with other people were significantly higher than those in elderly women living alone, but fat weights and lean body mass between groups were not different. None of the plasma lipid fractions were significantly different among the three groups except LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration. In the LI group, LDL-C was lower than that of LF and LA groups. From the above results, serious nutritional deficiency has been shown in elderly women that live alone. Therefore, nutritional education and social help should be carried out to improve these situations for elderly people.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2007

This study was designed to evaluate health and nutritional status of elderly females according to their family type. The participants were 157 elderly women(41 living alone, 45 living with a spouse, and 71 living with family). Among them, the subjects answered that their health rated as good condition, the elderly living with a spouse had significantly higher proportions than those living alone and living with family. Serum cholesterol and fasting blood glucose of the respondents living with a spouse were lower than those of the respondents living alone or with family. A dietary assessment with a 24-hour recall method represented that the elderly living alone had lower nutrient intakes, especially the intake of Ca. Most of women living alone or with family were consuming less than 75% of the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances(RDA). For the females living with a spouse, the number or nutrients consumed below 7s% or the Korean RDA were significantly lower than that for those living alone and the elderly living with family. As a result of the above analysis, the health and nutritional statement of old women with a spouse was better than that of the old living alone or with family.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.264-273
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• 2012

This study analyzes the food frequency for the elderly regarding different family types and finds the factors for nutritional risk, offers a basic reference for providing nutritional support for them. The study referred to the dietary behavioral survey data of 3,680 elderly people (1652 male and 2028 female) from 21 regions in the northern Kyeonggi province. The data was collected through the method of one-to-one interviews and was a part of the Community Health Survey for 2008 by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). We classified family types as a household for elderly people living alone, a household of elderly people with a spouse, a household of the elderly with unmarried children and a household of the elderly with married children, and as for intakes of foods, the frequencies of taking fruits, vegetables, kimchi, rice with mixed cereals, meat, fish, bean tofu soymilk, milk and dairy products, as well as sweet beverages are calculated on a daily basis and skipped meals are calculated on a weekly basis. Elderly women showed lower income, lower education level, higher unemployment rates, and a higher rate of government healthcare subsidies than elderly men. Elderly women tend to live alone and with their children while elderly men tend to live with their spouse. In both males and females, the intake of fruits and vegetables were the least in the elderly living alone, while the elderly with married children ate the most. In both males and females, the household of the elderly living alone ate significantly less amounts of Kimchi than other family types. Elderly people living alone tended to have significantly less meat and fish, especially women. In the case of rice with mixed cereals, the elderly men living alone and the elderly men with unmarried children ate significantly less amounts than the elderly men living with a spouse. The elderly men living alone took significantly less milk and dairy products than the elderly men with unmarried children while the elderly women living with a spouse took significantly less milk and dairy products than the elderly women with married children. With regards to the frequency of meal-skipping, the elderly living alone had the highest frequency for skipping meals. From this result, having various foods is difficult for the elderly living alone. Furthermore, the elderly living with unmarried children demonstrated a low quality of dietary life compared to those of married children. Hence, it can be concluded that social support is important in order for the elderly to have a balanced diet.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2018

Purpose: The study has been conducted to identify factors affecting the participation in leisure activities by elderly women living alone. Methods: Data were collected through a questionnaire survey among 150 elderly women in Seoul and Gyeong-gi Province. The measurement tools that were used include participation in leisure activities, perceived health status, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form-Korea (GDSS-K), psychological well-being scale, and loneliness scale. The data were analyzed by using the Pearson correlation coefficients, t-test, analysis of variance ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS/windows version 21.0 program. Results: The analysis shows that the affection for participation in leisure activities of the elderly women living alone who participated in the questionnaire survey is significant (F=14.6, p<.001). The value of the adjusted $R^2$ is 0.55, which accounts for the explanatory power of 55.4%. The predictor that has been found to have the greatest influence on the participation in leisure activities by the elderly women living alone include perceived health status, followed by monthly allowance (10,000 won), psychological well-being, economic status, religion, depression, family structure, and loneliness. Conclusion: The results suggest that in developing nursing interventions and practice for the participation in leisure activities by elderly women living alone, perceived health status, psychological well-being, depression, and loneliness should be considered.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.258-269
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of an integrated activity program on the self-efficacy and depression of underprivileged elderly women living alone. Methods: The participants recruited were fifty underprivileged elderly women living alone in D city. Data were collected from September 1 to October 1, 2015. To test the effects of the integrated activity program, the participants were divided into two matched groups, an experimental group (N=25) and control group (N=25). The data were analyzed with a ${\chi}^2-test$, Fisher's exact probability test, and t-test using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results: After attending the integrated activity program, significant differences between the experimental group and control group were found for self-efficacy (t=9.19, p<.001) and depression (t=-18.31, p<.001). Conclusion: The results indicate that the integrated activity program enhances self-efficacy and reduces depression in underprivileged elderly women living alone. Therefore, this program is a good strategy that community mental health nurses can use to improve the mental health of underprivileged elderly women living alone.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of Yangseng (Traditional Health Behavior), depression, anxiety, cognitive function between the elderly women living alone and the aged in the living with family. Methods: The subjects of this study were 137 elderly women aged between 65 and 80. They were evaluated with the Tool in Measuring Yangseng (TMY), Korean Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS), State-Trait Anxiety Inntory (STAI) and Korean of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMES-K). Depending on whether or not they lived alone, they were divided into two groups; group living alone (L.A.) and group living with family (L.F.). Results: In TMY score, there were statistically significant differences in characteristics of Mind, Diet, Sleep and total score between L.A. (63 persons) and L.F. (74 persons). Group living alone (L.A.) had significantly higher score in KGDS and STAI compared with other group (L.F.). The values of KGDS and STAI comparing to the values of Mind, Diet, Sleep, Exercise and total score in this study resulted in negative correlations which showed statistically significant. Conclusions: Above results suggest that between L.A. and L.F, there are significant difference in physical and mental health. TMY is enough to estimate health of the aged. These results can be used for Yangseng health promoting program based on Korean traditional medicine.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.233-259
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to find out about how are physical health, economical states and social relationships of women elderly living alone in an island. The measurement variables are subjective health status, satisfaction of life and a feeling of depression through Activities of Daily Life, social supports, social network and social relationship. First, the ADLs of the aged women living alone in the island are that can't do themselves 23.4%, and need to other's help on their walking 23.4%, bathing 6.5%, and going out 10.3%. Second, them answered that is very shortage or shortage with living expenses 46.8%. Average income in a month is under 200thousands won are account for 32% in a rural and 32.4% in an urban but the aged women living alone in an island are account for 35.1%. comparing with that they are living under the absolute poor with a small income less than 300thousands won. Third, social relationships of the aged women living alone in the island are living with an offspring in a same region 50.6%, a neighboring village 11.7%, and living with a relation in same region. At this study differs from other studies are about studying to be compared aged people between rural and urban area. This study is researched comprehensively about more fragility people.