• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.327-358
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• 2013

This study aimed to analyze the trajectories of cognitive function and functional disability, and to identify the impacts of socio-demographic factors on the two variables. Based on the assumption that there are differences according to the progress of cognitive impairment, it focused on examining the differences in trajectories of cognitive function and functional disability between two groups: dementia conversion group and dementia non-conversion group among cognitively normal older adults. This study was conducted based on the data from a 3-wave panel study of a sample of 966 Yeoncheon elderly cohort aged 65 and over between 1997 and 2003. Latent growth curve model and multi-group structural equation modeling were used to examine the hypothesis. Results revealed that dementia conversion group exhibited faster rate of cognitive decline as well as lower initial cognitive level. Difference between two groups was not significant in the initial level of functional disability, yet dementia conversion group showed greater degree of deterioration in the functional disability over time than dementia non-conversion group did. In terms of the influence of socio-demographic factors on cognitive function and functional disability, the cognitive decline was more drastic in the female group, whereas functional decline was more apparent for the male group. The level of education in early life had a strong impact on the cognitive function in later life. Based on these findings, practical implication for high risk groups in cognitive function and functional disability were discussed.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2024

This study aims to provide basic data for improved the level of subjective health awareness in the physical and mental aspects of prospective seniors by verifying the effect of self-esteem of pre-elderly on subjective health awareness and the mediating effect of interpersonal skills. For the analysis, data were collected through a survey of 270 prospective seniors aged 55 and over to 64 years old, who participated in the prospective elderly program operated by social welfare institutions in the metropolitan area, from February 16 to March 16, 2023, and SPSS WIN 25.0 and PROCESS MACRO were used. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics analysis, and correlation analysis were conducted as analysis methods, and the mediating effect of interpersonal ability was verified through structural equation analysis, and the main analysis results are as follows. First, it was found that the self-esteem of the pre-elderly had a positive (+) effect on subjective health perception. Second, interpersonal ability showed a mediating effect in the relationship between self-esteem and subjective health perception of pre-elderly. Based on these results, it is significant in that it presents basic data for a successful and active retirement life in the future old age.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.325-332
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the attributes influencing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and develop the prediction model for metabolic syndrome over 40-aged people from Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Study 2012. The researcher chose the attributes for prediction model through literature review. Also, we used the decision tree, logistic regression, artificial neural network of data mining algorithm through Weka 3.6. As results, social economic status factors of input attributes were ranked higher than health-related factors. Additionally, prediction model using decision tree algorithm showed finally the highest accuracy. This study suggests that, first of all, prevention and management of metabolic syndrome will be approached by aspect of social economic status and health-related factors. Also, decision tree algorithms known from other research are useful in the field of public health due to their usefulness of interpretation.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.291-327
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to classify the type of retirement process among the mature-aged in Korea. The study used the panel data from Korean Labor Panel (year2~6) for the classification of retirement process through Optimal Matching and Cluster Analysis. Classification is made in 5 categories as 'peripheral-economically active', 'private-transfer dependent', 're-entering limited', 'securely exiting', 'exit-and-reentering'. First, "peripheral-economically active" is a group which frequently experienced job status change and work insecurity. Second, "private-transfer dependent" is a group in which private transfer is likely to be supplements income in the incidence of unemployment. Third, "re-entering limited" is a group in which the proportion of no financial support combined with the absence of any economic activity is the largest. Fourth, the type "Securely exit" is th group whose members switches over to non-economically active status with pension receipt. The last type is "exit-and-reenter" that the member are highly possible to reenter in the labor market and stay in long time regardless of with or without pension plan. To examine the inequality among the types of retirement process, the duration of each status is analyzed. First, in the situation of being non-economically active, the duration of status is maintain public pension receiving and duration stabile in "securely exit" group. For "private-transfer dependent" type, members are mostly dependent on private financial support and that duration of it is longest. Through the analysis of retirement process without under other financial supports, it is "securely-exiting" type for which the duration of full-time employment is longest. It appears that the duration of part-time employment is longest in "peripheral-economically active" type. And for the case of non-waged employment it is "exit-and-reenter" type. Finally, the redistribution policy based on life course perspective is necessary to prevent that the opportunity in the structure before retirement stage and the unfavorable position in labor market make worse disadvantage in retirement process and after that.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.141-178
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• 2012

Although the rate of self-employment is high in Korean labor market and the rate gap between age groups is high, few studies have addressed on the effects of push factors on transition into self-employment across age groups. The goal of this research is to determine if push factors exert different effects on the self-employment decisions across age groups. There is interest in testing push hypothesis and pull hypothesis. The Korean Labor and Income Panel Study wave 6~11 is used to test this study's hypothesis. The main contribution of the paper is that in case of high unemployment, the probability of transition into self-employment increases. It is consistent with the push hypothesis. Many people are forced to become self-employed person due to the high rate of unemployment and limited occupational choice rather than the role of entrepreneurship. By age subgroup, the transition into self-employment of the ages of 30 and 49 is high. In addition, people at 40-49 years of age are more likely to become self-employed as a response of inadequate job opportunities. It provides the evidence that the self-employment is not a matter of special age group in that people in the 30 to 49 year old age group whose economic activities are vigorous move into marginalized labor market. Furthermore, it seems to be threatened the employment's stability of the prime age in that even people who are age 40-49 years of age are pushed into self-employment because of the recession.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.177-206
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• 2013

The Korean government has implemented the senior employment policy as a direct job creation policy since 2004. A realistic discussion of policy alternatives and orientation for this has been given little attention even though senior employment policy has been carried out for the last 10 years and it will be expanded next year. This study tries to examine active labor market policy especially focusing on direct job creation programs and policies for the disadvantaged low-income elderly in OECD countries, and then it suggests some developmental alternatives for senior employment policy based on the study's results. The main results from this analysis are summarized in two points. Firstly, except pension policies, employment policy for older workers in the OECD countries is highly proportional to the tackling of objective factors reducing the demand for older workers (wage subsidies, reduced social security contribution rate etc). And the strategies of improving employability have not been relatively important and direct job creation policy has been marginal. Secondly, employment support policies for the low-income elderly can be divided into three types: support for the low-income elderly, alleviating early retirement and support for full employment according to the criteria which are determined by policy objectives and the social economic index. Korea's employment support policies belong to the type of direct job creation among them. This seems to be due to the fact that the rate of elderly poverty is extremely high and an income security system has not been developed in Korea. However, the policy objective is still uncertain. Therefore, this policy needs to set up clear objectives and establish a proper system for the achievement of its goals. If we focus on the strength of its employment characteristics, we need to modify the policy's plan in the perspective of labor market policy. But if we intend to keep both of the current objectives, it is better for this policy to be divided into two parts: social participation and income supplements. Or it also may be a solution to transform the system into an employment service, a training system which supports participants to move into unsubsidized jobs such as SCSEP in the U. S.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.249-271
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• 2012

This research examines the degree and the patterns of living arrangement transitions and analyzes the factors affecting transitions in living arrangement among elders in Korea. Data came from four-wave panel study of Hallym Aging Research Institute. The first wave was conducted in 2003, and each successive wave occurred exactly 2 years after. Respondents who were aged 60 and over, and had at least one living child were selected for this research. The baseline consisted of 1,907 respondents(2003), then became 985 for the fourth transition interval (2009). A total of 825 who participated both in 2003 and 2009 were used. Binomial logit regression analyses were used to analyze the effects of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, physical health, cognitive function, psychological well-being, and cultural attitudes toward elder care on transitions in living arrangements. Results show that 29.82% of the elders made transitions in living arrangements from 2003 to 2009, indicating remarkably unstable living situation over this time period. The ratio of living alone is increased from 17.6% to 19.6%, in contrast with decreased ratio of living with married children from 30.5% to 25.2%, and that of living with unmarried children from 19.9% to 13.7%. Factors affecting transitions in living arrangement were different according to types of living arrangement. Elders living with married children were more likely to be older, widowed and to have higher level of psychological well-being and more traditional attitude toward elder care. Elders living alone were more likely to be women, widowed, and to have more chronic diseases and lower level of psychological well-being.

• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.645-666
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the elderly with disability focused on comparison between aging with disability and disability with aging in Korea. Disability in older age has been related to several psychosocial characteristics, including social support, self-esteem, life satisfaction and depression. However, the exact role of these characteristics in the disablement process remains uncertain and this study focused on comparison between aging with disability and disability with aging in Korea. This study analyzed the 12th wave (2017) KWPS(Korean Welfare Panel Study)and Disability Study which included 692 elderly with disability aged 65 and over. The data were processed by SEM and multi-group SEM analysis. The findings were as follows; First, family support and the significant others support showed direct effects on the life satisfaction of the elderly with disability. Second, family support and the significant others support reduced the level of depression and enhanced self-esteem and finally impact on the life satisfaction of the elderly with disability. The formal support enhanced the depression and reduced self-esteem and eventually reduced the life satisfaction. Third, the disability with aging group showed more higher perception and more experience of formal support and formal service and more higher depression than the aging with disability group. Forth, the significant others support on life satisfaction only showed significance in disability with aging group and depression had significance in disability with aging group. Finally, aging with disability group showed positive effects on the formal support of life satisfaction but showed negative effects on the depression and self-esteem. Based on these findings, practical implications of future directions for research are discussed.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.49-69
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• 1997

The urgent needs to establish hospice care systems in Korea arise from the following reasons: 0) a drastic increase in chronically ill patients with the increase of aged population: (2) rapid changes in living environment from the traditional habitation (e. g., Many Koreans living in apartment complexes, which is the most popular form of modern residence in recent years, prefer to die in the hospital.): the overall increase in patients with advanced cancer: (4) recent trends in early discharge of terminally ill patients from the limited hospital facilities to accomodate other medical insurance beneficiaries; (5) easy acceptance of euthanasia owing to the recent social atmosphere that belittles the dignity of human life; (6) medical and nursing care of AIDS patient in terminal stage; (7) and the problem associated with inhumane medical care system, overtreatment, and groundless fears against narcotics. Terminally ill patients were used to be treated in the hospital in the past. In these days, however, they are forced to have home cares with little assistance from the qualified medical personnel because of insufficient hospital facilities, which are even short for the need of emergency patients and provide priority cares to medical insurance beneficiaries with other acute problems. And yet, neither are there any administrative organizations nor systematic medical studies that deal with the level of terminally ill patient's need, their family's problems and resources of hospice care systems in Korea. Thus, most patients are not able to get appropriate medical care at the terminal stage of their lives. The objective of this study is to make comprehensive database for various hospice care organization currently in operation, link them through medical information system, and develop an easily accessible hospice care model that meets the need of most Korean people. Our survey results may be summarized as follows: Nationally there are 40 organizations that provide partial or full hospice care. However, these organizations are not linked to any formal medical service network. Furthermore, the objective of hospice care, care principles, personnel with appropriate training, educational programs, standard for care, costs, consulting service to patients' family members, the extent of medical care from professional staff members, status of hospice facility, and management of those institutions are neither clearly defined nor organized compared to the international hospice care standards. The surveys on patients of terminal stage. grouped in hospice and non-hospice care patients. reveal what they want visiting nursing care to help their pain control. psychological. social and spiritual demands. While the more than 90% of hospice care patients want to reduce their pains. the non-hospice care patients. in addition to their desire for pain control. demanded more psychological. social and spiritual helps as well. The results of this research could be utilized to 0) define the standard of hospice care. (2) provide the guidance for hospice medical care costs. (3) establish the database of hospice care systems. (4) develop softwares. (5) build communication network through Medinet. and (6) provide an organized visiting home nursing care system. These information should be a valuable resource to many medical staffs who are involved in cancer therapy. nursing care. and social welfare programs.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.449-460
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• 2021

The purpose of this study explained the experience of volunteering activities and the relationship of subjective self-awareness in order to examine the social meaning of volunteer activities. For adults aged 20 or older, 312 volunteering experience and social support awareness were analyzed on the level of self-identity by allocation sampling method depending on gender and age. The analysis results of this study were as follows. First, it was found that those who have experienced volunteer activitiies have a relatively simple willingness to participate in professional volunteer activities and those who have experienced volunteer activities. Second, social support and self-identification were different depending on whether they have experienced volunteer activities. Third, age, volunteer participation, willingness to participated in volunteering, and social support were analyzed as explanatory factors predicting self-identification of research participants. Based on the research results, volunteer activities to positively promote self-awareness suggested the need to practice volunteer activities according to the life cycle so that social meaning can be given. As a policy suggestion, the need for volunteer activities was closely analyzed to enable healthy self-forming for well-aging from adulthood to old age to discussed the need for policies and systems to strengthen volunteer motivation as leisure activities.