• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.121-128
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• 2006

Although population of the elderly is increasing rapidly, the older adults are the least users of the Internet in Korea. Prior research suggests that older adults are physically and psychologically disadvantaged when using the Internet. With the existence of the digital divide over different age groups, the objectives of this study were to identify the current status of Internet usage of Korean adults and to suggest some alternatives for solving digital divide on Internet usage. A total of 654 Korean adults, including the elderly, participated in both on-line and off-line (on-site interview) surveys using structured questionnaires. The results of statistical analyses indicated that the gap between the percentages of Internet users in younger and older groups was significantly wide, though many older adults had strong interests of Internet. To reduce this gap on digital divide, with an appropriate help from family and government, several characteristics of the elderly should be considered in designing some age-related web sites. Some effective alternatives suggested in this study may be used as basic data for universal design of Internet-oriented software.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.133-157
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to figure out requirements and considerations of guidelines for libraries serving active older adults in Korea. The research data were collected by examining domestic laws and policies, foreign library guidelines and service practices. Two focus group interviews were also conducted with 10 librarians of Seoul metropolitan area. The research findings were the following: Specific guidelines should be set up including sections of information resources, human resources, facilities, service & programs, and promotion & marketing. The guideline should also include not only solutions for improving digital literacy of old adults but solving librarians' difficulties with serving old adults.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.214-227
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the socio-demographic factors, the disaster related factors, the physical health related factors and the psychological factors of older adults exposed to natural disaster and these factors may possibly cause the occurrence of PTSD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed using the secondary data from the 3rd Disaster Victims Panel Survey (2012-2017). The data from 1,397 disaster victims were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. Results: Compared with the younger adult disaster victims, the elderly were more likely to have symptoms of PTSD (15.0% vs. 12.1%). Factors such as the number of years since being exposed to the disaster, anxiety, depression and social adjustment were significantly associated with occurrence of PTSD for both older and younger adults. Female gender was the additional risk factors for the older adults, while marital status, income, having witnessed another person's injury or death, and having lost a home were associated with the occurrence of PTSD. Conclusion: The elderly were more likely to develop PTSD as compared with younger adults. More targeted post-disaster mental health services to the elderly with the symptoms of depressive, anxiety and impaired social adjustments, should be provided to improve their mental health.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.858-870
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the adaptation process of older people to group homes. Methods: Participants were twenty older adults aged 65 or older who were living in group homes. Data were collected from January to April, 2015. In-depth unstructured interviews were conducted with individual participants. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory method. Results: From open coding, 100 concepts, 38 sub-categories, and 14 categories were identified. Analysis showed that the central phenomenon of the adaptation process of older people to group homes was 'gradually giving up'. Causal conditions were 'good-for-nothing body', contextual conditions were 'pushed', 'beleaguered'. Intervening conditions were 'reliable pillar: children', 'having affection (情) more than having it from family: facility workers', 'comfort - like feeling at home', 'relieved: system'. Action/interaction strategies were 'facing the unfamiliar reality', 'building relationships with other people', 'accepting reality'. Consequences were 'a good place, more than expected', 'hope for the remaining days', 'waiting for a peaceful death'. Conclusion: The results of this study provide an in-depth understanding of the experience of the adaptation process of older people to group homes. The findings from this study can be used as basic data to establish policies to increase the number of small scale facilities which can help older adults adapt easily to the facilities.

• 한국노년학
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.993-1011
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors associated with the incidence and the transition of disability among Korean older adults. Samples consist of 1,454(42.7%) men and 2,032(58.3%) women aged 65 and over who participated in the 1st and 2nd wave of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging: KLOSA. To estimate the level of disability, ADL and IADL disability indexes are used. As the results, major risk factors for ADL/IADL disability incidence include injury, vision problem, cognitive function, depression, health behavior, socioeconomic characteristics and age. Among the normal older adults, the odds ratio of having dementia symptoms at 2nd wave(2008) are 2.0 times greater for the older adults who have less cognitive function than those who don't have at 1st wave(2006). Among the older adults with chronic diseases, the odds ratio of having disability at 2nd wave are 1.8 times greater for the older persons who have depression than those who don't have at 1st wave. Secondly, concerning the predictors affecting the disability transition among the disabled older adults at 1st wave, the likelihood of remaining at the same level or deteriorating the level of IADL disability, as compared with improving the level, is associated with having less instrumental support or being older. These results indicate that it is necessary to prefer multilevel intervention in order not only to prevent the incidence of disability, but also to prolong the deterioration of disability in the older adults.

• 한국노년학
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.315-331
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• 2014

The goal of this study was to examine the association between employment and depressive symptoms among older adults in Korea, including analysis of potential gender differences. Using a sample of Korean adults aged 60 years or older from the 2008(Time 2) and 2010(Time 3) national longitudinal survey data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing, we regressed measures of depressive symptoms at Time 3 on employment at Time 2 (and employment both at Time 2 and Time 3), controlling for Time 2 depressive symptoms, subjective physical health, and sociodemographic variables as well. First, there was no evidence that older adults with a job at Time 2 had significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms at Time 3 compared to their counterparts. However, multi-group analyses showed that the effect of employment at Time 2 on depression at Time 3 differed by gender. For older men, employment predicted better mental health over time. However, this was not the case for older women. As such work role provided benefits only for older men. Second, older adults with a job at both Time 2 and Time 3 reported significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms at Time 3 than older adults who did not have a job either at Time 2 or Time 3. However, only older men who were employed at both Time 2 and Time 3 reported significantly less depression than their counterparts. These findings suggest that the mental health effects of employment are contingent on gender.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.571-580
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with unmet dental needs among adults with activity limitations. Methods: Data were obtained from the seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The final sample consisted of 945 adults aged 20 years or older with limited activity. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the influence of predisposing, enabling, and need factors on unmet dental needs. Results: The proportion of adults with unmet dental needs during the last year was 52.2% in the middle-aged group and 45.5% in the older adult group. Higher household income was associated with fewer unmet dental needs in both groups. In the older adult group, married people were less likely to have unmet dental needs. In the middle-aged group, adults who perceived their oral health as poor were more likely to have unmet dental needs. Conclusions: All three factors (predisposing, enabling, and need) were found to be associated with unmet dental needs among adults with activity limitations. Special efforts should be made to improve access to dental care services for middle-aged adults with activity limitations.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.42-52
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• 2021

This study was conducted to identify the influence of the discrimination experienced in daily life and social isolation on depression among older adults living in the community. This study was a secondary analysis of the data of 2017 Living Profiles of Older Adults Survey. The participants was a representative sample among the older adults 65 years and older. Data from 10,041 older adults were analyzed for this study. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were used. When the discrimination experiences was added in model 1, the likelihood of being depressed was 1.95(1.60-2.36) times higher for those who experienced discrimination comparing with those who didn't experienced discrimination. When the social isolation was added in model 2, the likelihood of being depressed was 1.89(1.55-2.30) times higher in those who experienced discrimination. In addition, as the number of close friends, neighbors, and acquaintances decreased by one, the likelihood of being depressed increased by 1.14 times. Those who were isolated from family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances were 3.90 times more likely to be depressed. Therefore, social efforts are needed to reduce the experience of discrimination. Maintaining a social network or creating a new network will contribute to lowering the level of depression in older adults who have experienced discrimination.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.614-623
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among knowledge, attitudes, and the use of negative control maintenance techniques toward older adults among nurses working in geriatric hospitals (n=86). Methods: Data were collected from April 4th to May 30th in 2006 by using questionnaires of Fact on Aging Quiz Part I, Aging Semantic Differential Scaling, and Control Maintenance Techniques. Results: The findings showed that the nurses displayed lack of knowledge concerning older adults and their average rate of correct answer was 45.6%. They also hold some negative bias and attitudes, especially in psychological and social aspects. The level of using negative control maintenance techniques in managing older patients' problematic behaviors was reported as the mean of 5.65 with a possible range of 0-40. Nurse's knowledge of older adults was positively associated with their attitudes toward older adults, but their knowledge and attitudes were not associated with the use of negative control maintenance techniques. Conclusion: It is necessary to provide educational programs for nurses that focus on a comprehensive understanding of aging with lifetime developmental perspectives. Further studies are needed to understand the factors associated with using negative control maintenance techniques and to evaluate the intervention programs in reducing the use of negative control maintenance techniques.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.221-228
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of alcohol use, depression, and self-esteem on suicidal ideation of older adults. Community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older were recruited from three welfare centers. A total of 245 older adults was assessed with the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Korean (AUDIT-K), Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form-Korea Version (GDSSF-K), Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI). Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were performed using the SPSS WIN 19.0 program. Higher depression, lower self-esteem, no religion, and poorly perceived health were statistically significant determinants of higher level of suicidal ideation in older adults. To prevent or reduce suicidal ideation of older adults, health care providers should consider the determinants identified in this study.