• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.745-766
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine the research trends regarding the published articles in the Journal of Korean Gerongological Society within the past 10 years. This study is based on the article written by Won and Mo (2008). This article classified previously published studies into themes, methods, and application of theory. Out of the total of 187 articles published in the past 10 years, 11 articles were about social change and institution, 94 articles were about social issues, 12 articles were about social problems and deviation, 42 articles were about social culture, 14 papers were about gerontological theory and 13 papers were about residence/architecture. In the last 10 years, the most popular topic was around the various ways aging. New topic that emerged was the effect of IT and technology on the quality of life among the older adults. Other topics that gained interest were age discrimination and prejudice on aging. Trends in research methods showed increased use of qualitative methods. In the future, more research needs to be completed to theorize the results of quantitative research. Furthermore, the use of qualitative research methods needs to be increased in order to understand the lives of older adults in depth. Through more meta analysis, the results of past research articles should be synthesized to get a bigger picture of the Korean older adults.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.168-176
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• 2020

Objectives : Loneliness and poor sleep quality are common phenomena in old age and are associated with negative physical and mental health. However, little is known regarding the relation between loneliness and sleep quality. The aim of this study was to examine the association of loneliness and sleep quality among the elderly living alone. Methods : This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 1,090 subjects who are the community-residing elderly living alone. Sociodemographic status, medical condition, cognition, mood disorder, sleep quality and levels of loneliness were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and a specific semi-structured interview conducted by trained nurses. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data regarding sociodemographic variable and loneliness. Univariate and Multivariate regression analyses were applied to examine the association between loneliness and sleep quality after adjustment for multiple confounding variables. Results : The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) mean score of "lonely group" (9.2±4.2) was significantly higher than that of "not lonely group" (7.3±3.7) (student-t test, p<0.001). Loneliness was significantly associated with PSQI (standardized β=0.065, p=0.025), sleep disturbance (standardized β=0.086, p=0.005), use of sleep medication (standardized β=0.065, p=0.034) after adjustment for possible confounding variables including sex and mood disorder. Conclusions : Loneliness was associated with sleep disturbance and this finding implied negative impact of loneliness on sleep quality of older adults. Public health promotion efforts to reduce loneliness may improve sleep quality and mental health in the elderly living alone.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.591-602
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the factors influencing happiness between the baby boom generation and the elderly generation, and to clarify the difference in the factors affecting happiness in old age. Thus, using the data of the '2019 Seoul Survey Urban Policy Indicators Survey', a total of 15,451 people including 7,831 baby boomers (born 1955-1963) and 7,620 seniors (born before 1954) were sampled. Through regression analysis, we analyzed what factors affect happiness. As a result of the analysis, family relations were the most influential factor of happiness in both groups, but next, satisfaction through participation in leisure activities for baby boomers and economic support for elderly generations had a great influence on happiness. In addition, the degree of participation in SNS, which has no effect on the baby boom generation, is a significant factor influencing happiness for the elderly, showing that participation in the digital environment is important to the elderly. In the results of this study, it was suggested that the baby boom generation and the elderly generation are significantly different in terms of group characteristics, and therefore their social needs for the pursuit of happiness in their old age should be approached differently.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to develop the Korean version of Music-Related Quality of Life (K-MRQoL) for the elderly. The K-MRQoL consisted of Musical Ability, Attitude, Activity Frequency (PART 1) and Musical Ability, Attitude, Activity Important (PART 2). Each subcategory consists of Music Perception with 11 items and Music Engagement with 7 items. The validity and reliability of K-MRQoL were measured with Pearson's and Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficients and Independent t-test in total 30 elderly with normal hearing and 30 elderly with hearing loss from local welfare Centers and nursing homes. The correlation coefficients between total scores and PART 1 and PART 2 ranged from .701 to .948 and from .598 to .926, respectively. The internal consistency between total and Part 1 and Part 2 ranged from .846 to .931 and from .838 to .918, respectively. The test-retest correlations were .979, .970, and 979 for total, PART 1, and PART 2, respectively. The correlation between K-MRQoL and Quality of Communication Life Scale was .449. There were significant differences in total, PART 1, and PART 2 between the elderly with normal hearing and hearing loss. This indicates that the K-MRQoL can be used as a useful clinical tool to evaluate Music-related Quality of Life in the elderly with normal hearing or hearing loss.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.231-248
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to implement a cognitive stimulation activity program and examine its effects elderly people who is capable of daily life and community activities but suffering from per sistent cognitive decline on the elderly's cognitive function, self-efficacy, and depression. The purpose of this study was to help elderly people who is capable of daily life and community activities but suffering from persistent cognitive decline improve their ability to perform and adapt to activity-based tasks incorporating a variety of actions of different subdomains and difficulty levels, ac cording to their characteristics and cognitive levels. The aim of the program created was to systemati cally improve the subdomains of cognitive functions and eventually preventing these conditions develo ping into dementia in those affected. This study also enabled the subjects to improve their self-effica cy through newly gained positive perceptions and attitudes toward their own abilities by successfully expressing their experience or thoughts about circumstantially and relationally meaningful events and memories, and performing activities that promote sensory stimulations. The group activities conducted as part of the study helped the subjects reduce their symptoms of depression not only by expressing their thoughts and emotions, but also by encouraging empathy with, understanding of, and caring for others. Given that this study confirmed the potential of the cognitive stimulation program designed fo r it as a clinical intervention for elderly people with cognitive impairment, it is suggested as a useful preventive program for early stage dementia.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.489-511
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• 2009

While late-life suicide has been increasing and become an important issue for public health in Korea, little is known about the phenomenon and its contributing risk factors based on which effective preventive measures can be made. Since suicidal ideation is a major precursor to attempted and completed suicide, the objective of the present study was to reveal primary contributors to suicidal ideation. Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of 247 community-dwelling Korean older adults (age≥60) in the mid-size city in Korea. The statistical methodology employed a robust hierarchical regression procedure that iteratively downweights outliers. Based on the stress-diathesis model, the study examined major diathesis and stressors directly explaining suicidal ideation. The study also explored the significant interaction among these factors. The findings revealed that living alone and depression were significant main antecedents of suicidal ideation. In addition, neuroticism X life events and neuroticism X depression were significant interaction terms with the strongest explanatory power, which provides an empirical evidence to support the stress-diathesis model in explaining suicidal phenomenon of the Korean elderly. The result demonstrates the theoretical implication as well as the practical implication for developing and implementing late-life suicide prevention strategies. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.711-732
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to understand the meaning and essence of aged life, which Korean elderly experience in real life and restructure them in the context of time and culture. In order to do so an in-depth interview was done with 15 elderlies over the age of 60 living in Hwaseong City, an urban-rural composite area in Gyeonggi Province where diverse elderlies could be found. In result, first, Korean elderly's understanding of aged life had physical, familial, economical, leisure, and social restoration aspects. Second, it was found that the degree of understanding about preparation for aging and preparedness is quite low. Third, as the gap between actual preparation for aging and aged life that elderly dreamed of became wider 'resentment on children', 'denial of reality', 'physical and economical change', and 'experience from prolongation of life-cycle' was found. Based on such results following suggestions could be made. First, the awareness of aged life and preparation for aging should be strengthened and there is a need for diverse educations aiming successful aged life. Second, elderly welfare policy and practical intervention with an integrated perspective based on the realm of life-cycle are demanded. Third, there is a need to strengthen the Aged Income Maintenance System for existing elder generation. Fourth, an intervention about adaptation and coping means of life event is needed. Lastly, there is a need to expand and carry out the aged life planning program for future elder generation.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.999-1014
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of long-term care insurance(macro-system) on family relationship(micro-system)s' change based on ecosystems theory. Data come from the second(2007) and the fourth(2009) Korean Welfare Panel Study(KWPS). Experimental group is the beneficiary using long-term care insurance and the member of household in their households, and control group is the non-beneficiary not using long-term care insurance and the member of household in their households. The main findings of difference-in-difference model analysis are as follows. First, the ecosystems theory is a theory examining the correlation between long-term care insurance and family relationship. Second, the effects of long-term care insurance is not income effect but independent effect. This result shows that the meaning of family has faded away and family relationship has been weaken and that long-term care insurance has not complete characteristics as a social insurance. Thus, system reforms of long-term care insurance is highly needed for system comprehensiveness, coverage, adequacy, and service accessibility and is changed into family-friendly social policy.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.159-184
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• 1988

Race and ethnicity are important factors which influence the elderIy's residential adjustment behaviors, although it is unclear whether this reflects influences unrelated to race and ethnlcity. Culturally, the norm of family supportoften obseved among various minority ethnic groups is likely to provide flexible family suppof for the elderIy. Economically, the life-long hardship ofminority groups is likely to force them to maintain extended family living arrangements simply to reduce expenses via economies of scale. Thecontroversy about the economic need versus the cultural prescription forextended living arrangements remains unresoIved because it fails to articulatethe meaning of family supports among many disadvantaged groups.This study aims to test previous economic and cultural arguments, byexamining ethnic differences iu the eiderIy's responsiveness to their health andeconomic problems. Two hypotheses about cultural influences on the elderly's resideutiai adjustment are examined. First, do elderly minorities receive famiiysupporis for longer periods when they are poor if economic and health status\ulcorner Second, do elderiy minorities receive family supports more often when their health status declines\ulcorner Using the Longitudinal Suvey on Aging from 1984 to 1990. this study employs Markovian multi-state life tables, and discrete and contonuous competing hazard analyses for the transition in living arrangements. The main results provide substantial evidence against the cultural resource thesis. Elderly minorities experience more frequent transition between living alone and living with relatives than white elderly persons when group differences in the extent of mortality and insititutionalization are controlled. The shorter timf of living alone among elderly monorities stems from their greater likehood of joining relatives as well as greater mortality and attrition rates than elderly whites. Coresidence of elderly whites with their relatives is more likely to occur in response to their needs for health care than of elderly whites. it implies that instability. not flezibility. characterrizes elderly minorities living arrangements.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the factors associated with meaning in life among elderly female community dwellers aged 65 or older who were living alone. Methods: A quota sample of 222 elderly female living alone was recruited. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Welch's test, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression using the SPSS 22.0 program. Results: The factors associated with meaning in life included age, education level, perceived economic status, perceived health status, social support, and loneliness. This regression model explained 66% of the variance in meaning in life. Conclusion: Based on the results, comprehensive nursing intervention programs for enhancing meaning in life are required.