• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2008

Recently, many urban traditional houses have been replaced by villas and apartments for the inconvenience of lifestyle. The aim of this study is to survey the present distribution condition, research the extension and alteration, focused on Korean urban traditional houses in Cheongju which is the old city in an inland area, and inquire into the behavior patterns of an aged living alone livelihood and a large household. As a result, in the typical 'ㄱ' types of central inland houses, all the rear and side parts are nearly extended except facades facing court, while the detached houses for an aged living alones and tenants have enlarged rooms, kitchen and 'Daecheong' within the existing wooden framework. We could grasp the enlargement of room, 'Daecheong', corridor, and storage in the layout of the existing house. There are so many alterations such as the stand-up kitchen and a water closet. A new extension on an old house was intensely built for tenants.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done to investigate factors associated with depression and quality of life (QoL) among the community-dwelling elderly. Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational research design. The subjects were 730 elders aged over 65 living in D district of Daegu. Data were collected using questionnaires for 30 days in April, 2007. The research instruments utilized in this study were a physical function scale of long-term care insurance system, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version (GDSSF-K), and Korean Quality of Life Scale (KoQoLs). The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan, stepwise multiple regression, and Spearman correlation. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 72.6, and 68.8% and 57.9% of subjects were, respectively, female and living alone. 12.3% of variance in depression was explained by age, education, economic status, subjective health, alcohol consumption, condition of teeth, and fall experience. 18.2% of variance in QoL was explained by economic status, number of diseases, condition of teeth, incontinence, paralysis, and IADL. Economic status and condition of teeth were contributing factors to depression and QoL of the elderly. Conclusion: Findings of this study may be useful in understanding the health status of the community-dwelling elderly and developing more regionally specific health promotion strategies.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate physical health status. depression. activities of daily living (ADL & IADL) of the low-income elderly who live alone in urban areas. Method: The subjects were the 400 low-income elders who live alone in Daegu city and the following instruments were used: 1. The number of self-reported physical health problems and present diseases: 2. CES-D scale for depression by Jo Nam-Oak et al. (1998): and 3. ADL scale by Katz (1989) and IADL scale by Lawton and Brody (1969). Results: 1. Visual difficulty was the most prevailing problem (55.3%) among physical problems. the second bowel elimination and the third hearing disturbance. As for present diseases. arthritis (26.5%), hypertension(24.3%) and DM (11.8%) were the most common diseases. 2. There were significant differences in physical health status according to age (t=3.115. p=.045). kind of medical security (t=-1.973. p=.049). perceived life satisfaction (F=4.966. p=.007) and the number of present diseases (F=2.937. p=.033). 3. There were significant differences in depression according to sex (t=-3.758. p=.000) . kind of medical security (t=-4.368. p=.000). perceived life satisfaction (F=35.743. p=.000) and the number of present diseases (F=4.246. p=.006). 4. There were significant differences in ADL according to sex (t=-2.136. p=.033) and age (F=4.863. p=.008). and in IADL according to sex (t=4.552, p=.000), age (F=3.090. p=.047) and kind of medical security (t=-3.306. p=.001). 5. Physical health state was correlated positively with both the number of present diseases (r=.140. p=.005) and depression (r=.352. p=.000), and negatively with ADL (r=-.176. p= .000) and IADL (r= -.230. p=.000). Depression was correlated positively with the number of present diseases (r=.169. p=.001) and negatively with both ADL (r=-.139. p=.005) and IADL (r=-.203. p= .000). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that general characteristics are important factors for physical health status, depression. ADL and IADL of the low-income elderly who live alone and there are close relations among physical health status, the number of diseases, depression, ADL and IADL. Therefore, these results must be reflected in community health programs for the low-income elderly who live alone. In addition, this kind of study must be extended to the low-income elderly who live alone in rural areas.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.372-383
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current state and trends of factors influencing the quality of life in low- income elders living at home. Methods: To carry out this study we established the patient, intervention, comparison, outcomes (PICO) strategy, reviewed 241 published documents from both national and international electronic databases, and finally selected 9 references based on inclusion and exclusion criteria alone. The quality of selected references was assessed using 15 questions. Two reviewers independently examined titles and abstracts and assessed whether each met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The following factors were significantly associated with quality of life in low- income elders: (1) demographic factors such as number of children, income, and age; (2) health - related factors such as joint exercise capacity, activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living, health perception, health promotion behavior, and depression; and (3) socio environmental factors such as family support, community-based service program, leisure activity, and the number of neighborhoods involved. Conclusion: The results of our study provide a definite basis for the development of a policy strategy to improve the quality of life in elders with low income and we hence strongly recommend that any strategy to improve the quality of life in low-income elders be based on the results of our study.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.419-431
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to understand the determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) according to age groups in vulnerable elderly women. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 1,533 elderly women beneficiaries of the visiting health care program in Seoul. The participants were divided into three age groups: the young-old (n=753, 65-74 years), old-old (n=602, 75-84 years), and oldest-old (n=178, 85 years or older) groups. HRQOL was measured using the SF-8 questionnaire. Results: HRQOL was found to be worse in the oldest-old group (p=.007). Factors associated with HRQOL differ by age groups. In the young-old and old-old groups, higher HRQOL showed significant correlation with a higher level of self-rated health (SRH) and a lower level of depression, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) dependence, and the number of chronic diseases. In addition, higher HRQOL was observed for elderly living alone than for those living with family. In the oldest group, higher HRQOL showed significant correlation with a lower level of depression, activities of daily living (ADL) dependence, and a higher level of SRH. Conclusions: In age specific groups, lower levels of HRQOL were observed for the oldest-old group than for the other age groups. Age group-specific nursing strategies may be required for improving HRQOL levels of vulnerable elderly women.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

This study investigated the effects of self-esteem on the depression of baby boomer and eco-boomer generation (the children of baby boomers) living alone. It was identified from the point of view of comparison between the two groups. Using the 15th data of the 2020 Korea Welfare Panel, an independent sample t-test and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted with the data of baby boomers who live alone (born in 1955-1963) and eco-boomers who live alone (born in 1979-1992). The results of this study show that baby boomers who live alone had lower levels of education, income, and health condition than the eco-boomers who live alone, and had higher level of depression, but relatively lower level of self-esteem. In both groups, self-esteem had an effect on depression, but it was confirmed that the influence was greater in the group of baby boomers (Adjusted R2 .259) than in eco-boomers (Adjusted R2 .083). Based on the results of this study, practical and policy alternatives were suggested to prevent the depression among middle-aged, elderly people, and young adults who live alone.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.571-582
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of a 12-week metabolic syndrome BeHaS (Be Happy and Strong) program in elderly people with metabolic syndrome living alone, based on a community-based participatory research (CBPR). Methods: A nonequivalent control group pre-posttest design was used, and the participants were 43 elderly people living alone (experimental group 24, control group 19). The experimental group received a one-hour program per week and two individual health consultations during 12 weeks. The control group received two sessions about the metabolic syndrome and two individual health consultations. The effects of health behavior, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, abdominal circumference, triglycerides, and self-esteem were evaluated. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The health behavior with respect to the metabolic syndrome in the experimental group increased significantly (t = - 3.19, p = .002). Both diastolic blood pressure and abdominal circumference decreased in the experimental group (t = 2.00, p = .028 and t = 3.91, p < .001). No significant differences were observed between the groups in systolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar levels, triglycerides, and self-esteem. Conclusion: The 12-week metabolic syndrome BeHaS program using community resources improves the health of elderly people with metabolic syndrome living alone. Based on these findings, further studies on the effectiveness of the metabolic syndrome BeHaS program and the experiences of those who participated in the CBPR are warranted.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.329-337
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• 2018

This study was designed to investigate the effect of medical education on the health behavior of elderly people aged 65 years or older who have the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. From 2014 community health survey data, 9042 people with hypertension and diabetes who had disease management education experience in elderly people over 65 years old were used as the final analysis data. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test and multi-variable logistic regression. The results of the study showed that the perceived rate of cardiovascular health factors was higher in the elderly living alone with disease management education (p <.001), and the probability of walking more than 3 days per week was 1.145(P = .002), not drinking at the present time was 1.212 times (p <.001), eating thinly was 1.184 times (p = .002). From the results of this study, it is required to develop the health promotion policy that reflects the importance of education by health care providers and the health information provided to the elderly living alone.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.57-68
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was performed to build the predictive model of suicidal ideation of elderly men living alone. Methods: As for the subject, 251 subjects suitable for the selection criteria were selected among elderly men living alone above 65 years old in one region in Gyeongnam and three regions in Gyeongbuk. The data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and Amos version 18.0. Results: The goodness-of-fit test result of hypothetical model were suitable for recommended level: ${\chi}^2/df=1.47$, RMR=.04, GFI=.92, AGFI=.90, CFI=.95, IFI=.95, RMSEA=.04. Self-esteem, individual coping, family cohesion, social support, social activity, and depression explained 55% of the model of suicidal ideation. The most influential direct factor of suicidal ideation was self-esteem, and social isolation was the most influential indirect influence on suicidal ideation. Conclusion: To sum up the above results, if we promote the researched variables of self-esteem, family cohesion, social activity, individual coping and social support in addition to developing and utilizing an efficient customized suicidal prevention nursing intervention program thereby reducing depression and social isolation, suicidal ideation of elderly men living alone would be prevented.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 1996

A total health state evaluation of Korean female elderlies was made by using the questionary scheme measuring the physical, mental and social functions of the elderlies, in order to investigate the critical factors for the health maintenance of female elderlies and to develop their preventive nursing program. A total of 280 subjects over 65 years old living in Seoul and the suburban area were selected and interviewed during the period of September and October in 1995. The materials collected were analyzed statistically by using SAS data processing program, and the results and recommendations are summarized as follows. 1. The physical health state of Korean elderly women was evaluated to be satisfactory by showing an average score of 3.722 in 5.0 full-score scale. But this score was lower than those evaluated for the elderlies combined both sexes(4.054). The mental health state of the subjects was also evaluated as high scoring 3.484, possibly due to the fact that 78% of the subjects lived together with their children's family. On the other hand, the social health state of the subjects was relatively low scoring 2.585, mainly due to that 80% of them was widows which was resulted by the 6-7 years longer life-expectancy of Korean women. 2. A significant differences in the physical health state scores between different age groups was observed, indicating the rapid ageing process occurring in this age group. The family structure was appeared to be an important factor influencing the physical health state of the female elderlies ; the physical health score of the women with her husband only was higher than that of those living with children's families, and the lowest score was obtained from those living alone. 3. The age was the most important factor determining the mental health state of the subjects, while the religion, educational status, marriage state and family structure did not significantly influenced the mental health state of the aged women. 4. The social health state of the subject was deeply influenced by the marriage state and family structure, showing significantly lower scores with widowers compared to the married couples. Those living with their married spouse only obtained the highest social health score, while those living along showed the lowest score. The parent and grandparentship of those living with their children and the religion, especially Catholic and Protestant, had positive influence on the social health state of the aged women. 5. The mental health state of aged women showed significant correlation with the factors determining the physical health, except for digestive system related ability and sexual ability and the highest extra home ability. 6. The mental health state of aged women showed significant correlation with the factors determining social health, especially with the parent and grandparentship and the family relative's role. From these results, the following recommendations are made. 1. Since the physical, mental and social health states of aged people are deeply influenced by the sex and the average values of the both sex can create misleading figures, the health evaluation of the elderlies should be made separately by sex. 2. Since the health state of aged women is highly influenced by their family structure, the spouse's role and living with married couple only should be emphasized in respect of preventive health care. 3. The social activity programs and grandparentship teaching programs should be prepared in the nursing care program for aged people.