A Study on the Powerlessness, Perception of Health and Cognitive Level of Elderly Home Residents

재가노인들의 무력감, 건강상태 및 인지기능에 관한 조사 연구

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.