The Journal of the Korea Contents Association (한국콘텐츠학회논문지)

The Korea Contents Association (한국콘텐츠학회)
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Lonely Deaths among Elderly People in the Aging Korean Society: Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies

고령화 한국사회의 노인 고독사: 위험요인과 예방전략

  • 김혜성 (강남대학교 사회복지학부)
  • Received : 2017.06.29
  • Accepted : 2017.07.17
  • Published : 2017.08.28
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the lonely-death phenomenon and to understand the circumstances surrounding the lonely-death cases among elderly people by examining the articles on such phenomenon and the media reports of such cases. The cases of lonely death reported from 2007 to 2017 were used. Case analysis was conducted, and the news articles that described the lonely death cases were identified using an internet search engine. Forty seven cases were analyzed. Several risk factors emerged from the data obtained, such as economic hardship, chronic illness, mental health problems like alcohol addiction, social isolation, disconnection from family members or the neighborhood, unemployment, single household, unmarried or divorced status, and living in an urban area. Based on the findings, prevention strategies were addressed.

본 연구는 노인 고독사 현상에 대한 이해를 목적으로 미디어 자료를 사용하여 고독사 사례를 살펴보고자 하였다. 질적 연구방법으로 사례분석 방법을 적용하였다. 고독사 사례는 2007년부터 2017년 초까지 보도된 미디어 자료를 사용하였다. 자료 수집은 인터넷 검색 엔진을 사용하여 수행하였으며, 총 47사례가 최종 분석에 사용되었다. 60대 21사례, 70대 17사례, 80대 이상 9사례를 분석에 사용하였다. 성별은 남성 22사례, 여성 17사례, 성별미상 사례 8사례로 나타났다. 분석 결과, 고독사 사례에서 나타난 주요 위험요인으로는 빈곤과 경제적 곤경, 만성질환, 정신건강 문제, 사회적 고립, 가족 및 이웃과의 관계 절연, 실업, 1인 가구, 독신 혹은 이혼, 그리고 대도시 거주 등으로 파악되었다. 연구 결과를 바탕으로 향후 예방 전략에 대한 논의를 제기하였다.

Keywords

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