• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Tai-Chi exercise (TCE) and resistance exercise (RE) when used as part of a community-based exercise program on improvement of physical function in elderly women with knee arthritis. Methods: Forty-seven women with knee arthritis participated in this study. They were assigned to one of two groups: the TCE group (n=22) or the RE group (n=25). Tai-Chi exercise and resistance exercise sessions were held for 1 hour per session, twice per week, for 8 consecutive weeks. At pre-treatment and post-treatment, subjects were tested using the following measurements: one-legged stand test (sec), a functional reach test (cm), a test of the strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles, determination of the pathway of center of foot pressure and vertical ground reaction force for stance phase at pre and post treatment time points. An independent t-test and a ${\chi}^2$ were used to determine the significance of differences between group means using SPSS 12.0. Results: After 8 weeks of participation in the exercise programs, there were significant improvements for both groups in joint pain, difficulty of performing activity, muscle strength of knee extensor and flexor. Also, vertical ground reaction force increased at the loading response phase for both groups. The RE group was significantly different from TC group on the eyes-closed one-legged stand test (sec). Conclusion: Tai-Chi exercise and resistance exercise programs improve physical functioning and reduce pain and locomotion difficulties.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2014

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the associations between physical disorders and prevalent/incident suicidal ideation in a community dwelling older population aged 65 years or over. Methods : 1204 people aged 65 years or over evaluated at baseline. Suicidal ideation was identified using the questions from the community version of the Geriatric Mental State Schedule ("GMS B3"). Reported physical disorders covering 11 common and generally chronic health problems were ascertained. Covariates included were depression, age, gender, years of education, accommodation status, past occupation, and current occupation. Of 1066 without suicidal ideation at baseline, 805 (76%) were followed 2 years later, and incident suicidal ideation was evaluated. Results : Prevalent suicidal ideation was significantly associated with 4 of 11 physical disorders: eyesight problems, persistent cough, heart disease and paralysis or weakness in one leg or arm. Incident suicidal ideation was associated with 3 physical disorders: asthma, high blood pressure and paralysis or weakness in one leg or arm. Both prevalent and incident suicidal ideation were significantly associated with increased number of physical disorders. Conclusions : Certain physical disorders were comorbid and precipitating factors of suicidal ideation in elders. And appropriate intervention and treatment of physical disorders might prevent suicidal ideation in elderly.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.89-99
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• 2009

The purpose of this research is to determine the deterioration characteristics of high-rise and high-density apartment complexes in 1st period new towns in order to regenerate apartments as sustainable residential environments in Korea. For this purpose, the level of deterioration was evaluated by using 'evaluating indicators of the level of deterioration of high-rise and high-density apartments'. The deterioration characteristics were determined inclusively and concretely based on evaluation results. In addition, the deterioration level according to residents' awareness of the deterioration of their apartment was evaluated. This study was conducted by methods of field data collection, staff interview, field measurement, and resident survey according to the measurement of the evaluating indicators. And the re-organized questionnaire based on the evaluating indicators was utilized for a survey of resident's awareness. The results are as follows: In the physical dimensions of apartments, the deterioration characteristics included deteriorated equipment and a decline in structural performance due to the aging of the apartment, a shortage of parking spaces, and the low flexibility of the bearing wall structure, etc. In terms of the social dimensions, the apartments showed an increase in the number of elderly households, a shortage of community facilities, and a lack of the opportunity for community participation etc. In terms of the economic dimensions, the apartments showed limitations in maintenance & repair and a lack of environmentally friendly features.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.267-282
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• 2011

This study investigated Korean and Chinese female college students' retirement attitudes. Considering the fact that the two countries are experiencing dramatic increases in elderly population, retirement planning is a significant social issue. Even though Korea and China share similar cultural backgrounds, economic systems and governmental retirement policies have been developed in different ways. The purpose of this research was to compare retirement attitudes and related factors between Korean and Chinese female college students. Based on a survey with 214 female college students (130 Koreans and 84 Chinese), differences and similarities in retirement attitudes and related factors were identified. On average, Chinese female college students showed more positive attitudes towards retirement than Korean students. The levels of thinking about retirement and worrying about finances in retirement were greater for Korean students than Chinese students. More Korean students anticipated that their actual retirement age will be earlier than their desired retirement age. Korean students believed that they should start retirement planning at an earlier age than Chinese students' retirement planning age. Korean students anticipated that the cost for food and housing as the major expenditure category in retirement while Chinese students anticipated cost for health care as the major expenditure category. Korean students who worry about finances in retirement, and those who anticipated that they will retire earlier than their desired age showed negative retirement attitudes when controlling other factors. Implications for retirement planning and education were presented based on the research findings.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.429-444
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to identify the risk factor and protection factor related to suicide ideation in each life course based on an ecological-system perspective. A questionnaire was carried out for 393 adolescents, 473 adults and 376 aged men living nationwide. The results are as follows. First, the suicide ideation was low with 1.78 points in the full mark of 5 points. Second, the difference in suicide ideation, depression, hopelessness, stress in the organic system variables, family solidarity in the micro system variables, intermediate system variables, residence, the existence/inexistence of counselling center and the influence of mass media in mezo system variables in each life course were significant. Third, the relative influence of organic system variables on the suicide ideation were largest in all life courses. Further, the depression and the influence of mass media in all life courses were a risk factor of suicide ideation and stress was also a risk factor of suicide ideation in the case of adolescents and the aged. When examining protection factors of suicide ideation, family solidarity, minute as it is, works as the protection factor of suicide ideation in the case of adolescents. For the adults, living in a metropolis was a protection factor from suicide ideation. For the aged, family solidarity, family history of suicide and adult children's attention to their friends and neighbors (intermediate system variable) were protection factors from suicide ideation. I suggested that policy, service, counseling and educational program proper to each life course were necessary to lower risk factors of suicide ideation and to improve protection factors.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the associations of food security with socio-demographic characteristics, nutrient intakes and mental health status among older Korean adults. Methods: This study was conducted using data from the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Subjects were 4,451 adults aged 65~98 years. Food security was measured using a self-reported question on food sufficiency of subjects' household. Based on the answers, study subjects were classified into secure, mildly insecure, moderately insecure, and severely insecure groups. Dietary intake was estimated by 24-hour dietary recall. Nutrient intake was assessed by dietary reference intakes (DRI). As for mental health status, the data on mental stress, depression, and suicide ideation were used. Results: Rate of food insecurity in older adults was 14.3%. Old age, being female, low education, low income level, living alone, and discomfort in daily living were more related to food insecurity. Means of nutrient intakes were significantly different according to food security status. Intakes of calcium, potassium, and vitamin $B_2$ were lower than recommended intakes in all groups. Consumption amounts of soy and soybean products, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, vegetable oils, meats, eggs, seafood, and dairy products were lower in food insecure groups. Mental stress, depression, and suicide ideation were higher in food insecure groups independent of the gender and income level. Conclusions: These present findings suggested that food security is related to mental health as well as nutrition status in older Korean adults. A national system that include food and psychosocial support programs for the elderly should be considered in order to improve the overall health of older Korean adults.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.276-285
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand levels of both mental health literacy of depression and intention of help-seeking, and then to identify the relationship of them in Korean older adults. Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional survey were 395 persons over 65 years old receiving customized home visiting health care services at Chungnam province. Data were collected through interviews by visiting nurses in 2011. Results: The proportion of participants with depression was 61.8% ($6.7{\pm}3.6$). 78.2% of subjects appeared to have help-seeking intention for solving depression. The proportions of participants with ability to recognize depression was 69.1%. Although the level about knowledge and belief in self-help interventions were varied according to questionnaires, subjects understood self-help intervention of smoking accurately (86.3%) and physical activity (85.5%). Ability to recognize depression, knowledge and belief about self-help managements, and opinion of medication for treatment among health literacy variables measured in this study were related to help-seeking intention. In addition, women, visual impairment, and lower depression scores were related to help-seeking intention. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that it is necessary to improve depression health literacy to manage effectively depression of vulnerable elderly in communities. These results could be used in developing mental health literacy programs.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.373-381
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• 2007

Purpose: An exercise program, which was composed of motions simple and easy to follow, was developed and applied to aged women as a way to improve their health conditions. Method: To ascertain the effects of the exercise, which was conducted twice a week and 16 times in total for 8 weeks from September 10 to November 5, 2005 in two experimental groups (31 Persons) and a control group (31 persons), this study conducted quasi-experiments of nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. Data were analyzed using SPSS/PC Win 10.0, the reliability of the measuring tools using Cronbach's alpha, the verification of equivalence for general properties and dependent variables using Chi-square test and t-test, and the verification of hypotheses using t-test and ANCOVA. Results: After the exercise program. the aged women showed profitable evaluation of decisional balance, high feeling of self-efficacy as well as improved subjective awareness of health. Their diastolic blood pressure and total cholesterol were also reduced significantly after the exercise. Conclusion: After the conduct of the exercise program for 8 weeks, aged women showed increased profitable decisional balance, self-efficacy and subjective awareness of health. This suggests that continuous and proper exercise is effective as an intervention for health improvement for the aged as well as the prevention of and recovery from geriatric diseases.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2020

Confronting rapid population ageing, Japanese government proposes various types of regional comprehensive care programs for elderly people. In particular, the Japanese government and local governments are making efforts to ensuring long-term care workforce. Among others, the government is pursuing measures to secure specialized manpower in various ways 1) Construction of infrastructure, 2) Loan system for long-term care worker, 3) Inflow of long-term care staff for foreign students, etc. Also, universities have trained numerous community care specialists through research centers for health care, social welfare, and specialized education. Korea is also expected to explode the demand for long-term care worker at the rapid rate of aging, and it is necessary to actively discuss measures to cope with it.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.722-733
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to explore dietary patterns and compare dietary patterns using cluster and factor analysis in Korean adults. This study analyzed data of 4,182 adult populations who aged 30 and more and had all of socio-demographic, anthropometric, and dietary data from 2005 Korean Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Socio-demographic data was assessed by questionnaire and dietary data from 24-hour recall method was used. For cluster analysis, the percent of energy intake from each food group was used and 4 patterns were identified: "traditional", "bread, fruit & vegetable, milk", "noodle & egg", and "meat, fish, alcohol". The "traditional" pattern group was more likely to be old, less educated, living in a rural area and had higher percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates than other pattern groups. "Meat, fish, alcohol" group was more likely to be male and higher percentage of energy intake from fat. For factor analysis, mean amount of each food group was used and also 4 patterns were identified; "traditional", "modified", "bread, fruit, milk", and "noodle, egg, mushroom". People who showed higher factor score of "traditional" pattern were more likely to be elderly, less educated, and living in a rural area and higher proportion of energy intake from carbohydrates. In conclusion, three dietary patterns defined by cluster and factor analysis separately were similar and all dietary patterns were affected by socio-demographic factors and nutrient profile.