• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2023

Purpose: This study sought to identify factors affecting the health-related quality of life (HINT-8) of female seniors aged 65 years or older living alone after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Raw data from the eighth third year (2021) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used, and the total number of subjects was 379. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 program, employing complex sample frequency and percentages, t-tests, analyses of variance, and regression analyses, while a post-hoc test (Bonferroni correction) was performed to determine differences in health-related quality of life. Results: The results of the study showed that the study subjects' health-related quality of life differed significantly depending on activity restrictions, number of walking days, age at menopause, perceived stress, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and subjective health. Most of the influencing factors were emotional factors such as perceived stress level, generalized anxiety disorder, and subjective health status carrying an explanatory power of 46%. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used as basic data to establish intervention strategies based on factors that affect the health-related quality of life for female seniors living alone.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.247-258
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive exercise program for the prevention of urinary incontinence (UI), frailty, and depression, as well as the promotion of physical function in community-dwelling elderly female living alone. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was employed. The participants were 76 vulnerable elderly female with a mild-to-moderate urinary incontinence. The exercise group completed 12 weeks of a moderate intensity, comprehensive exercise program. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests and ANCOVA were used for data analysis with SPSS. Results: Upon the completion of the 12-week exercise program, significant improvements for UI symptoms (p=.001), timed up and go (p<.001), frailty (p=.006), and depression (p<.001) were observed, but not for hand grip strength (p=.053). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the 12-week comprehensive exercise program for the prevention of urinary incontinence had positive effects on improving UI symptoms, physical function, levels of frailty and depression in elderly women living alone. More prolonged exercise programs with other types of exercise should be developed for these vulnerable elderly women, and future studies are encouraged to confirm the effect of the comprehensive exercise program in other settings.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.216-223
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• 2005

This purpose of this study was to investigate the nutrient intake, the health status as determined self-assessment checklist, biochemical indicators of elderly Korean women. We interviewed and 55 female subjects living alone in the Urban aged over 65 years. Information on their dietary intake was collected by 24-hour Recall method. Their health status was determined by a NSI checklist. Biochemical indicators were performed in whole blood and plasma of subjects. Except for protein, Fe, all of the elderly subjects belonged to over moderate nutritional risk. The average daily nutrient intake of the elderly was below the level of the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for Koreans. A relationship between their health risk score and nutrient intake was observed negatively (not significantly). They had a risk of anemia as hemoglobin and hematocrit of subjects were under the normal value. Therefore, the reason that health risk score and health status badly was thought for lower nutrient intake.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.207-218
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• 2017

This is the Study of descriptive research to look into influence factors about how pain, nutritional risk, loneliness and perceived health status have an effect on the health-related quality of life. The subjects were 110 elderly women living alone over the age of 65 living in D gu, Y gu, D metropolitan city and collected data by giving questionnaire, and used the SPSS/WIN 18.0 version to analyze. The correlated factors of health-related quality of life included pain(r=-.565, P<.001), nutritional risk(r=-.485, P<.001), loneliness(r=-.546, P<.001) and perceived health status(r=.706, P<.001). Factors influencing health-related quality of life are perceived health status, loneliness, pain, type of residence, number of diseases. Therefore, in order to improve health-related quality of life for elderly women living alone, it is necessary to induce the practice of education and health behavior for improvement of health status, to establish social network to increase emotional support and to apply various protection systems.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.316-329
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the association between dietary quality based on the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), and the prevalence of chronic conditions among middle-aged individuals (40-60 yrs of age) living alone. MATERIALS/METHODS: The participants were selected (1,517 men and 2,596 women) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016-2018 and classified into single-person households (SPH) and multi-person households (MPH). Nutrient intake, KHEI, and the prevalence of chronic conditions were compared according to household size. The odds ratios (ORs) of chronic conditions were analyzed according to the tertile levels of KHEI by gender within each household size category. RESULTS: Men in SPH had a significantly lower total KHEI score (P < 0.0001) and a lower prevalence of obesity (OR, 0.576) than those in MPH. For men, the adjusted ORs for obesity, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia in the first tertile (T1) of KHEI scores within SPH compared with the third tertile (T3) were 4.625, 3.790, and 4.333, respectively. Moreover, the adjusted OR for hypertriglyceridemia in the T1 group compared to the T3 group within the MPH was 1.556. For women, the adjusted ORs for obesity and hypertriglyceridemia in T1 compared to T3 within the SPH were 3.223 and 7.134, respectively, and 1.573 and 1.373 for obesity and hypertension, respectively, within MPH. CONCLUSIONS: A healthy eating index was associated with a reduced risk of chronic conditions in middle-aged adults. Greater adherence to a healthy eating index could lower the risk of chronic conditions in middle-aged adults living alone.

• 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.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study is to identify factors affecting elders' intention to participate in healthcare programs. Methods: This secondary data analysis used data of 390 elderly people who lived alone and were enrolled in the Visiting Health Care Center of H-city. In 2014, questionnaires were used to collect data about demographics, social activity, depression, frailty, and intention to participate in healthcare programs. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions. Results: Among the participants, 51.8% intended to participate in the offered healthcare programs. The strongest factor affecting the intention was gender. Women were 4.85 times more likely to participate in the programs than men. The women's intention was associated positively with increased levels of frailty. The men tended to participate in the program as they got older and as the level of frailty and the number of chronic diseases increased. Conclusion: Gender-specific public healthcare programs for vulnerable elders living alone should be developed to maximize their participation in the programs and to promote good health. The healthcare programs must be tailored to the levels of the patients' physical functions.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.184-193
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• 2018

Objectives : This study investigated the effects of social support and chronic medical conditions on depressive symptoms in elderly people living alone in a rural community. Methods : Sociodemographic information on 173 subjects aged 65 years or older who lived alone in a rural community and were recipients of National Basic Livelihood Security was collected and analyzed. All participants completed the Korean Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Lubben Social Network Scale. Additionally, the current prevalence of chronic medical conditions that interfere with the activities of daily living was examined. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the associations of social support and chronic medical conditions with depressive symptoms. Results : Social support(odds ratio: OR, 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 95% CI, 0.92-0.99) and chronic medical conditions(OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.23-2.05) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in all subjects. When analyzed by gender, social support served as a protective factor against depressive symptoms in elderly men only(OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99), and chronic medical conditions increased the risk of depressive symptoms in elderly women only(OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.26-2.40). Furthermore, osteoarthritis and lumbar pain were risk factors for depressive symptoms in all subjects(OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.10-4.56 and OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.08-4.12) and in elderly women(OR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.68-9.84 and OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.47-7.57), respectively. Conclusion : This study indicates that improving the social support and managing the chronic medical conditions of elderly people living alone are important for the prevention of depression in this population. Additionally, the present results suggest that it is necessary to establish different depression-prevention strategies for elderly men and women living alone.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.188-195
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• 2018

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the level of dementia knowledge of older Korean adults living alone in rural areas and to identify related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was applied. The participants were 231 older adults living alone who were recruited from 12 of the 13 primary health care posts in the rural area of Chuncheon. Participants' level of dementia knowledge was assessed using the Dementia Knowledge Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the t-test, analysis of variance, chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney test were applied. Results: Participants' mean age was $77.3{\pm}5.4$ years, and women comprised 79.7% of the sample. Over half of the participants (61.9%) had no formal education, and all the participants were enrolled in Medical Aid. The participants' average percentage of correct answers was 61.6%. The highest rate (94.4%) was for the item "Dementia can change one's personal character." The item with the lowest proportion of correct answers was "Dementia is not treatable" (23.4%). Dementia knowledge was significantly associated with age, education, health coverage, source of living expenses, and dementia risk. Conclusions: Dementia knowledge among Korean rural older adults living alone was relatively low. Participants' misconceptions about symptoms and treatment could hinder them from seeking early treatment. The results of this study suggest the need for active outreach and health care delivery for rural older adults living alone in South Korea.

• 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.