• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.5-25
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to explore factors influencing the poverty of the elderly in Korea. In spite the fact that poverty of the elderly is more serious than any other demographic group, this important issue is rarely studied. Using the 7-year accumulated data from the KLIPS(Korean Labor and Income Study), I combined the work history of the elders, their demographic characteristics and residence to estimate pooled data analysis of the elderly after reaching age 55 and who are also only living by themselves(only the elders). The results of this study are as followed: first of all, age, education, marital status, wealth, residence and work history are shown to be significant predictors for the poverty of elderly. Second, the results show that factors influencing the poverty is different depending on the elder's (demographic) characteristics. For example, age and marital status is a more important predictor in female than in male, and wealth and health status is a more important predictor in elders who do not have a spouse than in elders who do. Such results suggest that the policy of the poverty of the elderly which is only focused on elder's characteristic is limited. Therefore we can suggest that a policy which workable people can earn decent income and saving wealth for their elderly in job is needed. Especially, policies on the 'Working Poor' and reconstruct the current public pension system is very much needed.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-73
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• 1999

It is known that the role of informal support for elderly women is critical to their physical and mental health, adjustment in old age, and their overall life satisfaction. Elderly women's situation such as social losses, widowhood, living alone, and geographic relocation etc. may result in a need for more informal supports for elderly women's health than ever before. Particularly, women's same-sex friendships were rated higher for overall quality, intimacy, enjoyment, and nurturance. Unlike a generally accepted notion that later life for women is a time of isolation and loneliness, elderly women tend to maintain and reestablish their friendship regardless their marital status and living situation. Although studies on informal support for elderly women were inconclusive in many ways, elderly women's friendship tends to be stable despite of changing health status and life events. The relative importance between daughters and friends was also controversial. This study suggests that more research with reliable measurements is necessary for the practical prevention and intervention program of elderly women's health on this issue.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.274-286
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide a basic data that may help develop health promotion programs by identifying health problems and perceived health status of the rural elderly. Method: The subjects of the study were 366 elders recruited from 24 villages located in Mari Myun, Geochang Gun, Korea. The sample was selected using a quota sampling method. The instruments used in the study included 117 items for health problems and 4 items for perceived health status. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test, ANOVA and scheffe test using SPSS program. Results: 1) The most prevalent health problem was ailments in 'musculoskeletal system', followed by 'fatigue', 'eyes and ears', 'genitourinary system', 'mood & temper patterns', 'cardiovascular system', 'digestive system', 'nervous system', 'respiratory system' and 'skin'. 2) Womens health problems were more prevalent than men's health problems. 3) The mean score of perceived health status was 7.68. 4) Health problems of the rural elderly were significantly correlated with demographic variables such as education (F=9.532, p=0.000), gender (t=-4.246, p=0.000), marital status (t=-3.531, p=0.000), family type (F=5.742, p=0.00l), and occupation (t=3.356, p=0.001). 5) Perceived health status of the rural elderly was significantly correlated with demographic variables such as education (F=6.408, p=0.002), gender (t=2.949, p=0.003), marital status (t=0.802, p=0.034), family type (F=4.844, p=0.003), and occupation (t=-2.485, p=0.011). 6) Health problems of the rural elderly were significantly correlated with life style pattern variables such as drinking (F=5.223, p=0.006), smoking (F=4.087, p=0.007), salty food intake (F=3.424, p=0.034), greenish yellow vegetables intake (F=6.343, p=0.002) and fat food intake (F=5.327, p=0.005). 7) Perceived health status of the rural elderly was significantly correlated with life style pattern variables such as sleeping hours (F=3.966, p=0.020) and drinking (F=7.231. p=0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that nurses need to understand health problems and perceived health status of the rural elderly and to develop health promotion programs for them in the future in the consideration of regional and environmental elements.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.157-173
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to determine factors influencing the health satisfaction of the elderly. The study was conducted with 1,294 subjects during 3 months from 1st February to 30, April, 2008. The results were as follows. 1. The average score of their health satisfaction level is $2.76{\pm}1.81$ points on the basis of 5 point(54.2 points on the basis of 100 points). The health satisfaction level of the elderly was significantly associated with age, sex, marital status, monthly allowance, education level, occupation, the number of family members living together, family closeness, stress, and use of the social welfare centers. 2. As the variables affecting on the health satisfaction level, sex, age, marital status, monthly income, accupation, education level, the number of family members living together. stress levels. family closeness, ADL IADL and the use of the social welfare centers. were found, and the influence of these variables was 49.34%. The government, social service units, private health & medical organizations and experts need to pay more attention to factors influencing effective policy and health education programs for health promotion regarding the quality of life.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.23 no.3 s.75
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• pp.1-16
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• 2005

This study explored the elements, types, and determining factors of successful aging for the Korean elderly. In order to examine the expectations of the Korean elderly, a sample of 377 elderly aged 65 and over living in Seoul and Kyunggi areas was selected and interviewed. The elements of successful aging that the Korean elderly pointed out in the interviews were: 'peaceful and comfortable life', 'self-maintenance,' 'secure social support,' and 'ostentation.' The expected elements of successful aging were further classified into three types of successful aging: 'idealized expectation.' 'self-centered expectation,' 'balanced self-other expectation.' The elderly groups sorted by the types exhibited significant differences in terms of demographic characteristics, self-evaluated economic status, and self-evaluated health status. The variables that affected the expectations were age, level of education, marital status, gender, and self-evaluated health condition. However, further analysis revealed that the factors that affected the expectation for successful aging were different for male and female elderly. The results suggest that the successful aging of Korean elderly should be understood in the context of Korean society and culture. The results could be used to better understand varied and unique life of Korean elderly, as well as in establishing a basis of intervention that meets the specific demands of the Korean elderly.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.48-63
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• 2000

This study was designed and undertaken to find out the degree of powerlessness, perception of health and cognitive level of elderly home residents and to determine the factors influencing powerlessness, perception of health and cognitive level. The data were collected from October 1st to 20th, 1998. The subjects in this study were 271 elderly home residents over the age 60 living in Taejon city. The study tool for measuring powerlessness was developed by S.E. Chung(1998), the other for measuring perception of health was a self-rating scale defined by Mossey & Shapiro (1982), and the tool for measuring cognitive level was developed by Kahn, Goldfarb, Pollack and Peck(1960). Data were analysed for percentage, mean, t-test, and ANOVA using the SPSS program. The results of this study were as follows ; 1. The degree of powerlessness, perception of health and cognitive level was scored above the median. 2. The degree of the elderly' powerlessness was statistically significantly different in three demographic variables; sex, one's state of health compared to other elderly' and living expense load. 3. Perception of one's health was statistically significantly different in four demographic variables; sex, marital status, educational level and monthly money. 4. Cognitive level of the elderly was statistically significantly different in three demographic variables; age, educational level and one's health of state compared to other elderly' health. In conclusion, the factors influencing the elderly' powerlessness, perception of health and cognitive level generally were age, sex, their economic independence, marital status, and educational level. Also, this study indicates that social welfare for the elderly could be effective in reducing their powerlessness and enhancing their health of state and cognitive level.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.939-950
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• 2008

The purposes of this study are 1) to investigate the employment status of the elderly(i.e., whether the elderly is employed or not) in Ulsan, 2) to analyze the differences in household economic life between employed and unemployed old People, and 3) only for the employed old people, to compare the monthly earnings and job satisfaction by the work time of per day and by the regular employee or temporary employee. for this study, semi-structural questionnaires were distributed to 500 old people in Ulsan, in September, 2006. The results indicated that only 25% of the respondents were employed, and the employment status of the elderly was related to sex, age, education level, marital status, household composition, number of dwelling persons, and number of children. for household economic life, employed old people had higher household income and monthly allowances than unemployed old people, while they spent more on clothing, but less on food than unemployed old people. Regular old employees had higher monthly earnings and job satisfaction than temporary old employees. And the old employees working for more than 8 hours per day had higher monthly earnings than those working for less than 8 hours, but there was no significant difference in job satisfaction between the two groups.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.223-232
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to investigate voluntary activities of the elderly. Two hundred and eight older Cheongju residents were selected, and a questionnaire was used to collect data. The results are as follows: The number of participants in voluntary activities was relatively small. The main reasons for negative attitudes toward voluntary activities were significantly different according to sex, educational level, marital status, health status, economic level, religion, and life satisfaction. By using a cluster analysis, the elderly could be divided into four groups. Among them, a group with positive attitudes participating in volunteer activities was more likely to include males or those educated, healthy, and affluent. Based on the results of this study, it is revealed that participating in volunteer activities provides problem solutions and self development for elderly people.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 2010

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate risk factors for falls in the elderly by life-cycle. Methods: This study used the data on 435 male and female elderly generated from a survey taken at 21 Welfare Centers for the Elderly in Seoul. The incidence of demographic characteristics, physical changes brought about with ageing, health-related behavior, chronic diseases, and environmental characteristics on falls in the elderly was analyzed. Hierarchical Logistic Regression analysis was also conducted to investigate the incidence by life-cycle (early-mid-late stage) and the results were used for predicting falls. Results: The incidence of risk factors on falls varied across life-cycle. Among the elderly in the early (ages from 65 through 74), marital status, the existence of a companion, the quality of sleep, the chronic diseases, and the condition of the bathroom floor were found to be related to falls. Among those in the mid-stage (ages from 75 through 84), sex, marital status, the existence of a companion, hearing capacity, sense of balancing, chronic diseases, the exclusive use of rooms, and the side bar with bath tub were found to affect falls. Finally, for the elderly in their late stage (85 years of age and older), drinking and vision were found to be related to falls. Conclusion: The incidence of risk factors on falls was found to vary according the stage in the elderly. A key implication of this finding is that falls prevention programs and interventions must be catered to specific age sub-groups.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.332-342
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the level of activities of daily living (ADL) in a group of community dwelling elderly. Methods: The subjects were 100 low-income elderly registered in a public health center. The data were analyzed using the SPSS/PC program. Results: The results were as follows: 1. The basic ADLs of the subjects were scored at 7 levels, and the mean score was 6.24 out of 7 points. The subjects did not necessarily require help from others, but might have needed more times or instrumental assists to perform ADLs. The lowest ADL score was reported on walking up to the stairs (5.05), for which the subjects did not need physical assistance, but needed a certain degree of supervision. The highest score was reported on self eating (6.74), followed by bowel management (6.60). 2. The mean IADL score of the subjects was 1.77 out of 4 points. indicating that the subjects were very independent in performing IADLs, without help from others. 3. In relation to general characteristics, the level of ADLs of the subjects was significantly different by age (F=6.65, P=.000), main activities (F=6.36, P=.001), perceived health status (P=4.66, P=.012), educational background (F=4.64, P=.03), marital status(F=4.62, P=.005), and major household income (F=4.15, P=.002). 4. The subjects' level of IADLs in relation to their general characteristics was significantly different by perceived health status (F=8.08, P=.001), major activities (F=7.33, P=.000), age (F=6.18, P=.000), family context (F=3.53, P=.018), religion (F=3.10, P=.019), marital status(F=2.62, P=.055), and major household income (F=2.31, P=.049).