• Archives of design research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2001

The gait characteristics and shapes of human foot are changed by their diseases and habits. Especially, it is known that the size and shape of foot of the elderly(aged) differ from these of youth foot, because of muscle degeneration and wearing footwear for a long time. Therefore, to design and make last for the elder footwear, anthropometric data measured elder feet and classified their foot type will be necessary. Nevertheless, elder footwear has been designed and made by using the same last of the youth. Therefore, to design elder footwear, we measured 49 anthropometric data on foot of the 252 elderly males and females, and classified their foot shape and type according to FI(foot index) and MPA(matarars-phalanx angle) in this study. The results showed that the elderly has a tendency of slenderizing on foot compare to the youth, and elderly females have more deformed foot type than elderly males. The results can be provided as basic information to the design of elder footwear.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.749-761
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• 2002

This study investigated the anthropometric and biochemical indices, and the health and nutritional factors influencing the two indices among 194 middle-aged and elderly subjects (108 middle-aged and 86 elderly) residing in a medium sized city for more than 10 years. In the examination of their dietary habits, 8.3% of the middle-aged subjects and 14.0% of the elderly subjects had two meals a day, and more female subjects had two meals per day. Of the subjects who ate meals at regular times, 75.0% were middle-aged and 79.1% were elderly, and the degree of irregularity of meals was greater for female subjects. The study of the dietary behavior of the subjects indicated that 71.3% and 66.3% of the middle-aged and elderly, respectively responded that the amount of food in each meal was sufficient. The subjects ate alone comprised 19.7% of the middle-aged females and 31.5% of the elderly females. The prevalence of smoking among the subjects was 28.1% for the middle-aged, 18.8% for the elderly male and 7.4% for the elderly females. The percentage of the subjects who drank alcohol was 34.4% of the middle-aged males and 13.2% of the middle-aged females. Slightly less than half of the subjects exercised more than once a week, with the male subjects showing a higher rate than the female subjects. The average body mass indices (BMI) were 24.5 and 24.6 for the middle-aged male and female, respectively, and 22.6 and 24.0 for the elderly male and female, respectively. BMI assessment showed that underweight subjects (BMI ＜ 20) comprised 3.7% of the middle-aged, 14.0% of the elderly, and that 40.7% of the middle-aged and 24.4% of the elderly were overweight (25 ＜ BMI ＜ 30) , and 0.9% of the middle-aged and 1.2% of the elderly were classified as obese (BMI $\geq$ 30) . A waist/hip ratio (WHR) greater than 0.8 was found in 89.5% of the middle-aged females and 90.7% of the elderly females, showing high abdominal fat deposition in the majority of females. The average systolic blood pressure of females was 121.1 $\pm$ 17.1 mmHg for the middle-aged and 129.6 $\pm$ 21.3 mmHg for the elderly subjects. The systolic blood pressures showed a significantly difference between the two age groups. Those defined as anemic subjects based on hemoglobin values comprised 13.0% of the middled-aged group and 16.3% of the elderly group. There was a tendency for higher fasting glucose levels among the elderly subjects. An increase in total plasma cholesterol levels with age was shown. The female subjects had higher cholesterol levels than the males'The study of the correlation between the daily habits and health status showed that the amount of food eaten at each meal, the frequency of eating out, and the use of dietary supplements appeared to influence BMI, WHR, the plasma triglyceride and plasma cholesterol levels; omitting one meal had a positive correlation with the systolic blood pressure and plasma cholesterol. These results suggest that desirable dietary habits and concerns for health are contributing factors for maintaining good health, as indicated by normal blood lipid levels.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.134-141
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the elderly's motivation to participate in ball games on social support and subjective feelings of happiness. The subjects of this study were elderly people aged 65 or older who lived in Gwangju in 2020 and participated in the ball game movement. Besides, 150 males, 150 females, and 300 total subjects were selected using the convenient sampling method. The survey tool focuses on the motivation for participation in ball game movement, social support, and subjective happiness, and the data collected using this are used for the SPSS 20.0 version, and use statistics are processed according to the purpose of analysis. The results obtained through this research process are as follows. First, it was found that the elderly's motivation to participate in ball game exercise partially affected social support. Second, it was found that the elderly's motivation to participate in ball game exercises had a partial effect on subjective happiness. Third, it was found that the elderly's social support partially affected the subjective feelings of happiness.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1125-1131
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between quadriceps composition and its functional contractility in obese and nonobese elderly individuals. Thirty-four ($70{\pm}2yr$) individuals (obese, n=21; nonobese, n=13) participated in the study. The thigh composition was assessed with a CT scan, and its functional contractility was measured with an isotonic dynamometer. Variables were analyzed with a $2{\times}2$ two-way ANOVA and a contrast test (p<0.05). There were no between-group differences in the subjects' ages and heights, but individuals in the obese group were approximately 23% heavier and had 18% more fat than those in the nonobese group, regardless of gender. The total thigh volume of the obese elderly was greater (~29%) than that of the nonobese elderly, regardless of gender, and the fat volume (~39%) of the obese elderly was greater than that of the nonobese elderly, regardless of gender (p<0.05). Interestingly, the obese elderly tended to have a greater thigh muscle volume (~17% for males [p<0.05] and ~10% for females) than the nonobese. Despite the greater muscle volume, the peak knee extensor torque of the two groups was comparable or slightly greater in the obese individuals. However, when this was normalized by the total thigh volume, the nonobese males showed significantly greater peak torque (~26% for right and ~20% for left; p<0.05) compared to the obese males. The nonobese females also showed greater peak torque (~8% for both legs) than the obese females after normalization, but the result was not statistically significant. In conclusion, although the obese elderly individuals had greater quadriceps muscle mass than the nonobese, the normalized peak torque of the obese was significantly lower than that of the nonobese, implying a lower degree of muscle contractility.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.255-265
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• 2009

This study was investigated nutrient intakes and dietary evaluation index of the healthy subjects over 85 of Sunchang County to explore the improved dietary pattern for healthy aging of the elderly. The survey was conducted by personal interview to 161 elderly subjects (59 males and 102 females over 85) in 2006, and their daily dietary intake was assessed by 24-hr recalls and weighing one meal. The daily energy intakes of males were 1,335 ${\pm}$ 67 kcal, and those of females were 1,095 ${\pm}$ 38 kcal comprised of 66.8% and 68.4% of the EER for the age group of 75. The proportions of energy from carbohydrate : protein : lipid were 70.7 : 14.6 : 14.6 for males and 68.6 : 14.0 : 17.4 for females. The average protein intakes were 95.4% for males and 85.0% for females of RI, and the average calcium intakes were 54.3% for males and 43.6% for females of RI. The daily vitamin intakes were below 70% except vitamin A, vitamin $B_6$, and vitamin E. The proportion of the relative risk groups of protein, phosphate, iron and vitamin A ranged 40-49% of RI over 75 year groups. The other nutrient intakes showed that there were over 50% risk groups. Especially for nutrients such as calcium, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin C, folate and niacin over 70% of the subjects were under risk. The median value of all nutrient intakes did not reach AI. The INQ of nutrients were over 0.8 except for folate and vitamin C. Calcium intakes were relatively low and needed attention. However, the ratio of calcium and phosphate showed 1 : 1.6, which appeared to be superior to the other districts. The DVS were higher as the dietary balance scores, KDDS were higher, and the groups with high KDDS had high intakes of nutrients compared to the groups with low KDDS. The high risk groups as judged by simple nutrition screening test had lower nutrient intakes than the groups of middle risk or low risk groups. The subjects in Sunchang area had relatively low intakes of several nutrients. However, judging from the desirable patterns of the energy proportion from three major nutrients, ratio of calcium and phosphate and INQ of nutrients there is a possibility that extended healthy aging might be related to the quality of nutrients and relative ratio between nutrients. To improve nutrient status of the elderly of the surveyed area further application involving KDDS and DVS appeared to be required.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2012

Discourse is regarded as an important component of communication assessment, but studies about the discourse characteristics of the elderly are scant. The purpose of this study was to confirm the effects of aging, gender, and educational level on discourse in elderly people with normal cognitive function. Forty normal elderly and forty young people participated in this study. A picture description task (Boston Cookie-Theft picture) was used to examine discourse function. The description task was analyzed for both productivity (total number of sentences, total number of syllables, and syllables per sentence) and semantics (CIU ratio). The results were as follows: 1) Only CIU ratio differed significantly according to age. 2) In the total number of syllables and syllables per sentence, females demonstrate a higher number than males. 3) The CIU ratio differed significantly according to educational level. These results suggest that impairment of communicative function is an aspect of cognitive impairment that can be related to aging. Also, discourse performance in the elderly is associated with their gender and educational level.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.313-320
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• 2024

The present research investigates the factors influencing the elderly adults' life satisfaction in the era of information and communication technology (ICT). Specifically, we examine whether the elderly individuals' digital literacy skills (i.e., ability to use PCs, ability to use mobile devices, and ability to distinguish information) and perceptions (i.e., perceived usefulness of digital technology, self-efficacy in using digital devices, and social interaction) predict their life satisfaction. To answer the research question, we performed a hierarchical multiple regression analysis using the elderly Korean adults aged 55 or older. The results indicate that (1) females (vs. males) are more satisfied with their life; (2) the higher individuals' age, education and monthly household income, the higher their life satisfaction; and (3) their perceived usefulness of digital technology, self-efficacy in using digital devices, social interaction, and ability to distinguish information are positively associated with life satisfaction. The findings provide important implications to enhance life satisfaction of the elderly adults in the ICT era.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.665-678
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to promote the elderly apparel industry for the increasing numbers of elderly obese male population. In the study, a total number of 249 males between the ages of 60 to 85 were studied to analyze their body types and differences. The group had a Rohrer Index of 1.6 or higher and BMI of 25 or higher. The noticeable physical differences in the group were shorter waist front length, bigger waist and hip circumferences with increasing age and slimmer limbs that are associated with the natural aging process with or without obesity. The obese body types have been classified in the following 3 different categories. Type 1 is the group that has lower body obesity with broad shoulders and relatively slimmer abdomen than a heavy bottom. A total number of 84 people belonged to the type 1 obesity category which makes up 33.8% of the total. Type 2 is the group that has upper body obesity with especially large abdominal obesity. A total number of 76 people, 30.5% of the total, were classified as type 2. Type 3 is the group that has whole body obesity with balanced obesity in the whole body. A total number of 89 people, 35.7% of the total, made up type 3.

• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.103-123
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• 2018

The purpose of this research is to study how an elderly male lives after the experience of bereavement, and to understand the experience's essence. The researcher picked 3 elderly men living alone after separation by death as test subjects and gathered information through in-depth interviews. The analysis of the information was done based on the three-dimensional space of narrative presented by Clandinin and Connely(2000), and it restructures the common experience under five meanings. The mutual themes of 'It's the life of a sinner, but not wanting to be seen as a widower to others', 'The fear for death, and the preparation for after death', 'Trying to stay alive for the children', 'Entering the world to find meaning in a gloomy life', and 'A lone goose lost in search of social warmth' came from the research results. The essence of the experience studied with the mutual themes as basis came out to be 'A struggle to take flight again after one broken wing'. This research has a major significance in that elderly males' experience of bereavement was studied in the dimension of time continuity, and that individual social interactions that are made by elderly males to continue their lives after the experience of bereavement were studied.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.45-54
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• 2014

Fall is one of the most intimidating health conditions in elders. Comprehensive assessment is necessary to understand the individual and environmental aspects of the falls such as balancing abilities, depression, and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to compare the balancing ability, depression, and quality of life between elderly fallers and elderly non-fallers. Thirty-two community-dwelling elders (fifteen males and seventeen females between 65 and 83 years old), who have experienced fall on walking during last twelve months, were involved in the elderly fallers group. And twenty-four males and twenty-two females between 65 and 83 years old of community-dwelling elders, who have no experienced fall on walking during last twelve months, were involved in the elderly non-fallers group. Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), and functional reach test (FRT), were used to evaluate the ability of the physical balance. 'Beck depression scale in Korean' questionnaire was used to assess the depression. 'Korean version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-Bref' questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. The results were as follows: 1) Balancing abilities measured by the BBS, TUG in the elderly fallers group were meaningfully lower than that of the elderly non-fallers group (p<.05), whereas no significant difference in the FRT was found (p>.05). 2) Depression level in the elderly fallers group was significantly higher than that of the elderly non-fallers group (p<.05). 3) Quality of life in the elderly fallers group was significantly lower than that of the elderly non-fallers group, excluding environment domain (p<.05). Therefore, in order for clinical evaluation of the community-dwelling elders those with reduced balancing ability, it is necessary to evaluate and understand the fall experience, depression, and quality of life.