• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.242-251
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine disparities in food and nutrient intakes based on family types identified among 1,856 participants who were the Korean elderly people in the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) excluding those who were currently practicing the diet therapy. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We separated the subjects into two groups: living alone (LA, n = 638) and living with a spouse (LS, n = 1,218). We also examined the disparities of dietary quantity and quality of those two groups using complex sampling design general linear regression analyses (CS GLM). RESULTS: In the LA group, there was a higher percentage of females and average age in LA group was higher than the participants in the LS group. Household income and education level were significantly lower in LA compared to those of LS. The frequencies of skipping meals were higher in LA. LA's food and nutrient intakes showed lower consumption of vegetables, fruits, seaweeds, and of most nutrients. Even after adjusting for the confounding factors, the consumption of vegetables, seaweeds, carbohydrates, potassium, riboflavin, and vitamin C showed lower in LA than LS. Moreover, LA's nutrient intake ratios compared to the KDRIs were lower which turned out to be similar to their nutrient intakes. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that dietary behavior and food intake of the elderly are associated with family types. Frequently skipping meals and less dietary variety are more common with elderly persons who were living alone. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate the supplementary food programs and nutrition education programs for the elderly living alone.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.105-114
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary pattern and the Community Periodontal Index in elderly people who live alone in rural areas and to provide necessary data to strengthen nutrition education about the oral health of elderly people who live alone. Methods : Dental examinations and questionnaires were conducted with 380 elderly people who live alone in rural areas of Gyeonggi-do. Results : The Community Periodontal Index was higher when the elderly people who live alone had a low intake of vegetables and fruits, a high intake of sugars, a low number of breakfasts, a high frequency of overeating and a high frequency of instant ingestion. Conclusions : It is necessary to provide nutritional management services for the elderly people who live alone in rural areas and to provide preventive centered comprehensive oral care.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.8
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• pp.109-116
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• 2018

The study focuses on the relationship between the desire for economic activity and happiness among the elderly living alone. Qualitative research was conducted as a research method. Research participants were either go to the elderly community wellness center or volunteer at the center. The results were: First, it turned out that enjoying different programs and socializing with others at the community wellness center and the health of family were the factors of happiness to the elderly living alone. Second, the difference on the desire on economic activity among the elderly living alone was significant. Three groups could be categorized: the elderly who wants economic income through jobs, others who were wealthy, and others who do not struggle with their finance but wanted to continue their economic activity through part-time jobs. In average, the desire for economic activity was high but they wanted 2 - 3 hours of labor per day, considering their physical condition. In case of income, there were two groups, who desperately wants more income, and others who feel their income is sufficient. This study suggested a virtuous cycle of government support policies to the elderly living alone in economic and psychological perspectives.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.184-193
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• 2018

Objectives : This study investigated the effects of social support and chronic medical conditions on depressive symptoms in elderly people living alone in a rural community. Methods : Sociodemographic information on 173 subjects aged 65 years or older who lived alone in a rural community and were recipients of National Basic Livelihood Security was collected and analyzed. All participants completed the Korean Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Lubben Social Network Scale. Additionally, the current prevalence of chronic medical conditions that interfere with the activities of daily living was examined. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the associations of social support and chronic medical conditions with depressive symptoms. Results : Social support(odds ratio: OR, 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 95% CI, 0.92-0.99) and chronic medical conditions(OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.23-2.05) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in all subjects. When analyzed by gender, social support served as a protective factor against depressive symptoms in elderly men only(OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99), and chronic medical conditions increased the risk of depressive symptoms in elderly women only(OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.26-2.40). Furthermore, osteoarthritis and lumbar pain were risk factors for depressive symptoms in all subjects(OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.10-4.56 and OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.08-4.12) and in elderly women(OR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.68-9.84 and OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.47-7.57), respectively. Conclusion : This study indicates that improving the social support and managing the chronic medical conditions of elderly people living alone are important for the prevention of depression in this population. Additionally, the present results suggest that it is necessary to establish different depression-prevention strategies for elderly men and women living alone.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.51-58
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze suicidal ideation of elderly people with diabetes living alone and to investigate the relationship between suicidal ideation, loneliness, and depression. This study was conducted through secondary data analysis using total survey data for the elderly living alone in O province. The subjects of this study were 466 elderly people who were diagnosed with diabetes among the elderly living alone. The data of this study were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, multi-linear regression analysis, and the three-step mediating effect verification procedure of Baron & Kenny using the SPSS 26.0 program. The average loneliness score and average depression score of the subjects were 4.52±3.30 and 4.88±4.03, respectively, and 27.3% of the subjects said they had a suicidal ideation. The subject's loneliness (β=.20, p=.005) and depression (β=.30, p<.001) was found to be a significant factor in predicting suicide ideation. In addition, depression was found to be partially mediated in the relationship between loneliness and suicidal ideation. Through the results of this study, loneliness and depression were found to be important factors related to suicidal ideation in the elderly with diabetes living alone. In addition, in order to improve suicidal ideation in the elderly with diabetes living alone, intervention to lower the level of loneliness and depression is necessary.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the factors associated with meaning in life among elderly female community dwellers aged 65 or older who were living alone. Methods: A quota sample of 222 elderly female living alone was recruited. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Welch's test, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression using the SPSS 22.0 program. Results: The factors associated with meaning in life included age, education level, perceived economic status, perceived health status, social support, and loneliness. This regression model explained 66% of the variance in meaning in life. Conclusion: Based on the results, comprehensive nursing intervention programs for enhancing meaning in life are required.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.262-269
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to identity the death anxiety of elderly people living alone, and the factors that affect their death anxiety. The subjects did not have an impaired cognitive function, and were from one Chungcheongnamdo 2 district in the elderly University. The subjects were 187 elderly people over the age of 65 living alone in the district. The character, communication, and data was collected from February, 2014 to 2 May, 2015 and analyzed using the SPSS 18 program. The death anxiety whole point of elderly people living alone was 2.94 (${\pm}0.32$); it was 3.06 (${\pm}0.32$) points according to the sub-region 'death process anxiety', 2.88 (${\pm}0.51$) points according to 'after-death anxiety', and 2.75 (${\pm}0.43$) points according to 'presence loss anxiety'. The factors affecting the death anxiety were economic status, depression, and spiritual wellbeing. Economic status (${\beta}=-.36$, p= .000) had the largest effect with an overall explanatory power of 20.3%. Therefore, for the death anxiety of elderly people living alone, life needs to be strengthened through social security systems with intervention programs to improve the quality of depression and spiritual wellbeing.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.538-546
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to identity the spiritual state of elderly women who live alone, and factors which affect their spiritual well-being. It was a predictive study using correlations. Methods: Data were collected to identify spiritual well-being of underprivileged older women who live alone and their demographic characteristics, activities of daily living, social support, self-efficacy, and health promotion behavior. Participants were 210 underprivileged women, over 65 years of age and living in permanent-rented apartments in Kyonggi Province. Collected data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: Scores for spiritual well-being were higher than the medium, 3.77, out of a possible 6. Health promotion behavior (${\beta}$=.22, t=3.51, p=.001), religion (${\beta}$=.38, t=7.95, p<.001), self-efficacy(${\beta}$=.25, t=4.63, p<.001), social support received (${\beta}$=.23, t=3.96, p<.001), length of time living alone (${\beta}$=.12, t=2.51, p=.013), and age (${\beta}$=.11, t=2.24, p=.026) were significant factors affecting spiritual well-being. Conclusion: The result of the study indicate that to enhance the well-being of underprivileged elderly women, it is necessary to increase health-promotion activity rates and identify mediation strategies to promote social support and self-efficacy.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2017

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the quality of life and stress level of the elderly living alone in their neighborhood volunteers. Methods Data collection was done from July 1 to October 1, 2015 and the data were collected by self-reported questionnaire at Nowon community in Seoul area in South Korea. The subjects were 146 older adults living alone agreed to participate in the study(accepted by IRB). The questionnaire was constructed with quality of life 26 items, 5-point Likert type scale(1-5), stress 15 items, 5-point Likert type. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results Socially isolated older adults had significantly higher scores ($3.7{\pm}.03$) in quality of life, moderate scores ($2.9{\pm}.03$) in stress. Conclusion The peer support undertaken by older community volunteers was effective in improving quality of life in socially isolated older adults. It is necessary to listen to the voice of elderly people living alone through the activation of volunteer groups in the community.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.657-679
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• 2021

This study aimed to explore the experience and nature of emotional care for elderly parent living alone for middle-aged adult who formed initial insecure attachment with his or her parent. To this end, 12 middle-aged people aged 45 to 60 (3 males and 9 females) were recruited as subjects of the study, interviewed in-depth, and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological research method. As a result of the study, 60 constitutive meanings, 18 themes, and 4 thematic groups were derived for the experience of middle-aged adult who experienced insecure attachment to his or her parent and caring for the emotional needs of elderly parent living alone. Thematic groups included "negative experiences that caused emotional exhaustion," "emotional driving force in emotional care," "the role of helper in parental care," and "economic and physical content in emotional care". This study is meaningful in that it revealed the phenomenon of experiences of emotional care for parent living alone by middle-aged adult who had an initial unstable attachment with his or her parent to understand them and contributed to the provision of counseling data.