• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.27 no.spc
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• pp.625-634
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• 2016

This study aims to verify the effect of the rural community living home use through an analysis of depression among the elderly women who live alone in the rural community living home. A survey was conducted from July to September 2015 through direct interviews with 236 elderly people who live alone in community living homes at 52 locations across the country. The main results of this study are as follows. First, social support from family/relatives and neighbors/friends was found not to affect depression in the elderly living in community living homes. Second, satisfaction with health status, economic status and life appeared to affect their depression. This indicates the need for various measures to increase the subjective satisfaction of health. Third, when the demographic characteristics, social support and personal satisfaction were controlled, the period of use, satisfaction with use and operational service/no service were proven to have an impact on depression in the elderly living alone in community living homes. In other words, since the level of satisfaction with community living homes is very high and this has a positive impact on the elderly living in community living homes, it is desirable to have an ongoing policy for the homes to be utilized as important welfare resources. Based on these findings, this study proposes improvements in the user experience and programs and services offered for rural community living home business programs.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.309-320
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was undertaken to compare dietary life of the elderly living alone and in a family, and to compare differences based on gender, for the 2013-2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: The subjects included 2,612 elderly people aged over 65 years who participated in the health survey, health examination and nutrition survey. Subjects on a diet therapy were excluded. This study analyzed the general characteristics, dietary habits, daily energy and nutrient intakes, CPF ratio, estimated average requirement (EAR), nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR), index of nutrient quality (INQ), and food consumption of the elderly living alone and in a family. We also compared the differences based on gender. Results: Daily intake of food, water, dietary fiber, potassium, retinol, and riboflavin were low in the male elderly subjects living alone. The elderly living with family revealed higher NAR and MAR as compared to the elderly living alone. Although all MAR values were <1, the elderly living alone had lower values. Considering the intake of food, the consumption of seaweed, fish and shellfish, and oils (animal) was higher in elderly men living with families, whereas women living with families consumed more vegetables, fruits, seaweeds and seafood, as compared to their counterparts living alone. Furthermore, analyzing the foods consumed by the elderly people living alone, female subjects consumed more seaweed, milk and animal oil as compared to male subjects. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the elderly living alone have poor nutrient intake as compared to the elderly living with families. Based on this research data, we recommend that it is necessary to improve the health and nutritional status of the elderly living alone.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an arthritis self-management program on elderly women living alone in the community. Methods: This study recruited 36 individuals, who participated in the program once a week for six weeks at two community centers. The program consisted of muscle strengthening and flexibility exercises, health education on muscles and joints, and joint dance for aerobic exercise. The data collected were analyzed using the paired t-test and Wilcoxon rank test. Results: After six weeks, participants showed significant improvements in pain (t=3.03, p=.005), difficulties in activities of daily living (t=2.77, p=.010), health-related quality of life (t=-2.63, p=.014), flexibility of right shoulder (z=-2.42, p=.015), and balance (right leg, t=-2.63, p=.036; left leg, z=-2.36, p=.018). Conclusion: The results showed that the arthritis self-management program effectively improved outcomes for elderly women living alone. Thus, this program could be incorporated into various programs for elderly people living alone.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.115-137
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• 2003

This study aims to investigate the related variables of self-esteem and depression among the Korean elderly people living alone and examine the relationships or interactions between those variables. Participants were 676 elderly men and women who were at least 65 years of age(M=76.17, sd=7.60) and lived in Seoul, Korea. Three hundred seventy eight participants of this study were living alone. Participants completed questionnaires and psychological tests including: Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale, The Index of Activities of Daily Living(IADL), Social Support Index(SSI), and Life Satisfaction in the Elderly Scale(LSES). Main statistical designs were 2(gender)×2(residential types), Pearson-product moment and regression analysis. Results indicated that the elderly living alone recognized their health poorer, have lower economic status, and received less social supports than the elderly lived with others. The elderly men who had children were more likely to lived alone. And the elderly men living alone received less social supports than the elderly women living alone, and significant gender difference was found in the reason of living alone. The elderly men living alone had lower self-esteem than the elderly women living alone, while the elderly living alone showed more depressive symptoms than the elderly living with others. There were 2-way interactions both in self-esteem and depression by gender and residential types. There was highly significant gender difference in self-esteem only for the elderly living alone, and it was found that there was no significant difference in depression between elderly men living alone and women living with others. Regression analysis revealed that physical function and self-reported health are predictors of self-esteem, and physical function, self-reported health, and social support are predictors of depression for the Korean elderly living alone. These findings reiterate the role of physical function, social support, health in self-esteem and depession among the elderly and suggest the gender role for quality of life among the Korean elderly living alone.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.254-261
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between degrees of health promotion behaviors and life satisfaction and effects of health promotion behaviors on life satisfaction in rural elderly women living alone. Methods: A descriptive correlation study was conducted with 189 rural elderly women living alone aged 65 or older in four senior counties in Jeollanam-do. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ test, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression. Results: The subjects' health promotion behaviors and life satisfaction were significantly positive. Among the factors influencing the subjects' life satisfaction, nutrition and diet showed the greatest positive effects, followed by exercise and activity, and drinking and smoking. Among them, drinking and smoking had significantly negative influence. Conclusion: Among the health promotion behaviors that influenced life satisfaction, nutrition and diet, exercise and activity, and drinking and smoking were most significant factors. Therefore, this study provided basic data for improving the life satisfaction among rural elderly women living alone.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.333-344
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done to identify differences in health habits, perceived stress, depression, and suicidal thinking by gender for elderly people who are living alone and elderly people who are living with others. Method: The study participants were 4,051 people aged 65 years and over who were surveyed in the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2005. The relationship among outcomes and living arrangement by gender in elders was assessed using multiple logistic regression while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Older men living alone were less likely to have breakfast and more likely to perceive stress and think of suicide than older men living with family or others. On the other hand, older women who live alone were less likely to perceive stress than older women who live with others. Age, educational level, income, and number of diseases were significantly associated with each individual outcome. Conclusion: This study showed that living alone has a significant impact on physical health habits and psychological health of elderly people, especially for older men. Therefore, living arrangement should be considered in developing a health promotion program for elders as well as age, gender, education, and income.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.49-72
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to develop a cognitive behavioral therapy program for ego-integrity of depressed elderly women living alone, and to verify its effectiveness. Method: The subjects of this study were composed of elderly women(age 65 and older) living alone who had basic literacy skills, 24 or higher in mental state examination(MMSE-K), and 6 or higher in elderly depression(GDS). 29 women were randomly assigned into an experimental group(cognitive behavioral therapy), a comparison group(reminiscence therapy) and a control group. The experimental group and the comparison group retrospectively participated in a 90-minute therapy session twice a week for a total of 12 weeks. The effectiveness of the program was assessed through a pretest, posttest, and 2-month follow-up test. The data collected were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 statistical program. Results: The main findings of this study are as follows. First, at posttest ego-integrity and self-esteem marked higher scores in both of the experimental group and the comparison group than in the control group, but the experimental group marked comparatively higher scores than the comparison group. For dysfunctional attitude, only the experimental group showed lower scores compared to the comparison group and the control group. Second, at posttest depression marked lower scores in the experimental group compared to the comparison group and the control group. Third, at posttest problem-solving and support-seeking coping strategies marked higher scores in the experimental group compared to the comparison group and the control group. Fourth, the significant improvements remained at 2-month follow-up test. Conclusions: Cognitive behavioral therapy resulted in improvements of the ego-integrity and related symptoms of depressed elderly women living alone at posttest and 2-month follow-up test respectively.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.99-110
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• 2017

Objectives: I examined the health and oral health status of elderly people living alone compared to elderly people living with their families by using data (2014) from the 6th Two-Year Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: Among 1,454 health survey respondents aged 65 years and over who participated in the 6th Two-Year Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2014, 311 were elderly people living alone and 1,143 were elderly people living with their families. Results: In terms of socio-demographic characteristics, the percentage of elderly people living alone was high especially in women and when the subjects' age, education level, and income level were low. In terms of oral health status, the percentage of elderly people living alone was high when elderly people thought that their subjectively viewed health was poor and the frequency of drinking and exercise was low. In terms of oral health status, the percentage of elderly people living alone was high among elderly people who did not have good oral health in their subjective view and did not get oral examinations for a year and had a lot of difficulty chewing. Conclusions: Family support or additional social support for elderly people who live alone should be considered to promote the healthy lives of elderly people.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and loneliness in elderly women living alone. Method: Between 1 October 2008 and 30 April 2009, a random sampling method was conducted to recruit 112 elderly women who were living alone. The subjects were at least 65 years of age. Data was collected using the social support questionnaire, and the translated Korean Version of the Revised University of California at Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA Loneliness Scale). Results: In our study, the sources of social support were the children, neighbours, brothers and sisters, in this order. We found that the loneliness of the subjects was related to age, the number of children, and financial difficulty. The level of loneliness negatively correlated with the social support provided by children, brothers and sisters, other relatives, and neighbours. Also, there was a negative correlation with the social support satisfaction. The social support satisfaction and the social support offered by neighbours and relatives were the significant predictors of loneliness. Conclusion: The sources of social support, such as neighbours and relatives, and the social support satisfaction should be considered when planning intervention by nurses or social workers to decrease the level of loneliness in elderly women living alone.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.538-546
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to identity the spiritual state of elderly women who live alone, and factors which affect their spiritual well-being. It was a predictive study using correlations. Methods: Data were collected to identify spiritual well-being of underprivileged older women who live alone and their demographic characteristics, activities of daily living, social support, self-efficacy, and health promotion behavior. Participants were 210 underprivileged women, over 65 years of age and living in permanent-rented apartments in Kyonggi Province. Collected data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: Scores for spiritual well-being were higher than the medium, 3.77, out of a possible 6. Health promotion behavior (${\beta}$=.22, t=3.51, p=.001), religion (${\beta}$=.38, t=7.95, p<.001), self-efficacy(${\beta}$=.25, t=4.63, p<.001), social support received (${\beta}$=.23, t=3.96, p<.001), length of time living alone (${\beta}$=.12, t=2.51, p=.013), and age (${\beta}$=.11, t=2.24, p=.026) were significant factors affecting spiritual well-being. Conclusion: The result of the study indicate that to enhance the well-being of underprivileged elderly women, it is necessary to increase health-promotion activity rates and identify mediation strategies to promote social support and self-efficacy.