• Informatization Policy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.55-71
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• 2020

Digital accessibility of the middle-aged and elderly has been increasing at a faster pace than other groups such as the handicapped and adolescents. However, studies related to the digital accessibility of middle and older adults are scarce. In order to examine variables affecting accessibility to digital information of the middle-aged and elderly people, this study researches the impacts of sociodemographic, physical and mental health and social activity variables on the accessibility of digital information. We analyzed data of 1,661 people between the ages of 55 and 84 from the 2018 Status Survey on Digital Divide conducted by the National Information Society Agency. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis shows the higher education, economic, and life satisfaction levels are, the higher digital accessibility levels of both male and female are. The result of the analysis also shows that the aged male has a higher accessibility level when he does not live alone; meanwhile, the aged female has higher digital capability as her age is lower, which describes that there are differences between gender. We expect the result of this study to be used as an important reference to understand factors related to digital accessibility level and active intervention for improving digital accessibility of the middle-aged and elderly male and female.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1393-1407
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• 2010

This research was investigated how self-esteem and social support influenced depression for middle-aged and elderly male homeless people in Young-Deung-Po area. By using the sample of 150 male homeless people in Young-Deung-Po area, a multiple regression analysis was conducted for examining the impact of self-esteem and social support on depression. The findings of this study were following. First, self-esteem was a statistically significant indicator for depression. Specifically, the lower level of self-esteem was likely to increase the level of depression. However, social support as another key variable turned out not to be a significant predictor for depression. Second, age significantly impacted on depression for middle-aged and elderly homeless people. The older homeless was, the higher level of depression was indicated. The implication of these results was discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.117-141
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences of the factors affecting the entry of depression by generations and to present a practical strategy for preventing of depression by life-cycle. For this purpose, we analyzed the factors influencing the depression of adults, middle-aged and elderly people through the discrete-time hazard model. The results of this study are as follows: First, the lower the self-esteem, the lower the income satisfaction and the family satisfaction people have, the higher the likelihood of entering the depression they have. In addition, age, educational level, health status, presence of chronic diseases, employment status, regional area, and leisure life satisfaction were variables that showed difference by generation. In the case of adulthood(aged 20 ~ 39), unemployed persons are more likely to enter the depression than younger workers. On the other hand, the middle-aged(40 ~ 64 year olds) are more likely to enter the depression if they are older, have poor health status, have no chronic disease, and have low leisure satisfaction. Finally, older people(aged 65 and over) are more likely to enter the depression when the education level is higher, the health condition is worse, and the leisure satisfaction is lower. If they lived in an urban and rural complex, they are more likely to enter the depression. Based on these results, it is necessary to establish a support plan reflecting the characteristics revealed by generations in order to prevent the entry of depression.

• Journal of vocational education research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.119-138
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors influencing of separation and the time of separation for middle and old aged self-employed workers. The cox proportional hazards model was used in the first survey of KLoSA, 684 persons who were over 40 years old in 2006, using data up to the 5th period of 2014. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, the average duration of job for middle and old aged self-employed workers in 2005 was 15.5years. Of the total 684 workers, 214(31.3%) person was found to have lost their job during survey period. Second, gender, age at start up, and education level have significant effects on job separation of them. When women, when they were older at start up, when they were graduate the university or higher, increased their risk of leaving their businesses. Third, in the characteristic of their work, the type of job and job satisfaction were found to affect to job desertion. When people are engaged in accommodation and food business rather than agriculture and forestry fishery, when the satisfaction of the work is lower, the risk was high. Based on these conlusions, the following implications are suggested. First, it is necessary to establish a support strategy for female middle-aged and old self-employed and older workers who start their own business after their 60s. Second, it is necessary to support them to enter into various fields by utilizing their own aptitude and experience rather than establishing them in industries with low entry barriers. Third, it is necessary to develop policies to help improve job satisfaction in the working environment. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that high educated self-employed workers are satisfied with various compensations by self-employed.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.363-388
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• 2019

This study examined the influence of subjective age on subjective well-being and depression, and the mediating effect of meaning in life. A survey of 394 adults aged 40 or older completed a questionnaire concerning subjective age perception, meaning in life, subjective well-being, and depression. The main results are summarized as follows. First, the analysis of subjective age according to the sociodemographic variables showed that middle-aged and elderly people, who were highly educated and had good perceived health status, felt themselves younger than their counterparts did. Second, a young subjective age had a positive effect on meaning in life and subjective well-being while negatively influencing depression. Third, meaning in life significantly mediated the relationship among subjective age, subjective well-being, and depression. In other words, the younger the middle- and old-aged adults perceived themselves, the more meaning they found in life, which led to higher subjective well-being and lower depression. These findings suggest that, as people get older, perceiving themselves as younger than their chronological age can protect their mental health, and meaning in life plays an important role in the process.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the perceptions and service needs of tele-physical therapy among people in their 50s and older in Korea. Methods: Subjects were inducted during a 14-day survey of 104 people over the age of 50 in Korea and were administered a questionnaire consisting of 14 questions about their general characteristics and another 14 questions about tele-physical therapy. Results: The general characteristics of the participants (participants' gender, whether they were single or married, number of cohabiting families, final education, major, job, physical therapy experience, tele-physical therapy experience, presence of a physical therapy worker among relatives, subjective health awareness, chronic disease conditions if any, frequency of drinking, and smoking) were investigated. Among the perceptions of the subjects about tele-physical therapy, the score of 'awareness' was the lowest, and that of 'resolving restrictions on hospital visits' was the highest. In an analysis of the correlation between perceptions and needs, there was a significant correlation with factors other than 'awareness' and 'information protection' factors. The regression analysis of necessity and factors revealed that the awareness of necessity increased as the intention to use, health improvement, and time efficiency improved. Conclusion: These findings presented the perception and necessity of tele-physical therapy for adults in their 50s or older in Korea. These results will help confirm the demand for tele-physical therapy in this age group in Korea and the need to improve the available physical therapy services.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.536-549
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate food intake, dietary diversity and dietary pattern during the summer in middle aged and older adults living in Gugoksundam (Gurye, Goksung, Sunchang and Damyang counties), Jeonla Province located in southern part of Korea and known as one of the representative Korean longevity areas. Food intake and dietary diversity were assessed by using the data from 2 day-24 hour recall of 1,051 subjects (394 males and 711 females) aged 45 years and older (45-93 years in male, 45-105 years in female). The average ages of males and females were 70.7 years and 71.1 years, respectively. Average total daily food intake was significantly decreased with aging in both genders, and the average animal food intake ratio to total food intake was ranged 10~14% in 3 different age groups, 45~64 years, 65~74 years and 75 years and older. The contribution of each food group, in weight, to total food intake showed the descending order of grains, fruits, vegetables and alcohols in males, and grains, fruits, potatoes and meats in females. On daily intake amount of each food item, rice, watermelon, soju, kimchi, and potato were ranked on top 5 in descending order in males, and rice, watermelon, potato, kimchi and ylmukimchi in females. On intake frequency, rice, kimchi, onion, green pepper and potato were ranked on top 5 in descending order in both genders. Dietary variety score (DVS) and dietary diversity score (DDS) for the assessment of dietary diversity and balance were significantly decreased with aging in both genders. In food group intake pattern (DMGFV), 01101 type without consumption of dairy and fruits was the most prevalent, and only 3.6% of male and 3.9% of female subjects showed 11111 type, consumed all the 5 food groups a day. Dietary pattern of subjects was analyzed by cluster analysis with 18 food groups intake. Overall dietary pattern was classified into two clusters, one was more desirable and the other was less desirable. The percentage of subjects with more desirable dietary pattern was about 15% in male and 32% in female. In conclusion, most of our subjects living in Gugoksundam area were taking very simple diet with low amount of dairy products and fruits. These results indicate that nutrition intervention and education for older people living in rural areas should be focused on various food intake including dairy products and fruits.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.493-504
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• 2020

Background: There have been many studies on the associations between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function. However, no study has ever compared the associations across the methods of categorizing BMI. In this study, we aimed to fill the gap in the previous studies and examine whether the obesity paradox is valid in the risk of cognitive function. Methods: Of the 10,254 people aged 45 and older from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing from 2006 to 2016, 8,970 people were finalized as the study population. The dependent variable was whether a person has a normal cognitive function or not, and the independent variables of interest were BMI categorized by the World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO-WPRO) method, the WHO method, and a 10-group method. Covariates included sociodemographic factors, health behavior factors, and health status factors. A generalized linear mixed model analysis with a logit link was used. Results: In the adjusted model with all covariates, first, in the case of BMI categories of the WHO-WPRO method, underweight (odds ratio [OR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.17), overweight (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.35-1.36), and obese (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.33-1.34) groups were more likely to have a normal cognitive function than a normal-weight group. Next, in the case of BMI categories of the WHO method, compared to a normal-weight group, underweight (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.14-1.16) and overweight (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.06-1.07) groups were more likely to have a normal cognitive function; however, obese (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.61-0.63) group was less likely to have it. Lastly, in the case of the 10-group method, as BMI increased, the likelihood to have a normal cognitive function changed like a wave, reaching a global top at group-7 (26.5 kg/㎡ ≤ BMI <28.0 kg/㎡). Conclusion: The associations between BMI and cognitive function differed according to how BMI was categorized among people aged 45 and older in Korea, which suggests that cognitive function may be positively associated with BMI in some categories of BMI but negatively in its other categories. Health policies to reduce cognitive impairment need to consider this association between BMI and cognitive function.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.462-471
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the association between participation in social activities and mortality rates for those aged 45 aged and older in Korea. Methods: In this study, the 1st to 6th Korea Longitude Study of Aging was used to analyze 10,217 people excluding missing values among middle and old age groups aged 45 or older. The scope of social activities was classified into "religious gatherings," "religious gatherings," "leisure/cultural/sports-related organizations," and "clubs/hometowns/religious associations," and analyzed using a chi-square test and Cox proportional risk model. Results: In the case of non-participating groups in religious activities, the mortality rate was 1.24 times higher (hazard ratio [HR], 1.24; p=0.000) than those of the participating group. The non-participating group of social gatherings had a 1.27 times higher mortality rate (HR, 1.27; p<0.0001) than the participating group. In addition, the mortality rate of non-participating groups related to leisure/cultural/sports was 1.79 times higher (HR, 1.79; p=0.000). The mortality rate of the group that did not participate in the alumni association/festival/folklore society was 1.51 times higher than that of the participating group (HR, 1.51; p<0.0001). As a result of correcting the control variable to analyze the relationship between the number of participants in social activities and the mortality rate, the mortality rate of the group participating in one or less social activities was 2.26 times higher (HR, 2.26; p<0.0001) compared to the four or more social activity participating groups, and the mortality rate of the 1-3 social activities was 1.64 times higher (HR, 1.64; p<0.0001). Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was found that participation in social activities of the middle-aged and elderly groups was effective in reducing mortality, and in particular, it was found that there was a strong relationship with mortality in less than one social activity group. Therefore, it is intended to provide an academic basis for lowering the mortality rate of the group in line with the continuous improvement of domestic social activity participation conditions, and through this, this study can be expected to serve as a policy and institutional basis for lowering the mortality rate of the group.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.19-27
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence rate, surgery tendency, and risk factors of cataracts among the elderly in Korea. The subjects were 40-95 years old men and women using the National Health Services' surgical statistics. Among the 33 major surgeries, which increased by 1.1% per year for the last 20years (1.6 million), the most operated surgery in 2020 was cataract surgery (454,000), the number of which was 858.8 per 100,000 people. Among the surgical patients, cataract patients (7.9% increased) was the third largest among the top (2016-2020) constantly with annually 2.2% increasing for 20 years (19.95 million). The medical expenses of major surgeries (excluding non-benefit) increased by an average rate of 9.3% per year over the 20 years (7,204 billion won) out of a total medical expenses of 7.2 trillion won, and the cataract surgery (813.2 billion won) was the second largest among the medical expenses in 2020 (top 3). This study showed that there was a high correlation between cataract and smoking, low income, and low-educated, whereas being no concentration of cataract patient in tertiary hospitals.