• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1629-1644
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• 2009

This study was to examine the relationship between self-differentiation and mental health of elderly couples. This study also tries to investigate the effect of self-differentiation on mental health. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire method with 271 elderly couples over 55 years old who lived in Chollabuk-Do province. The results showed that first, there was no significant difference in the level of total self-differentiation between husbands and wives. While the level of mental health(depression, somatization) were higher for wives than for husbands. Second, both husbands' and wives' mental health were negatively correlated with self-differentiation. Finally, results of multiple regression analyses showed that both husbands' and wives' mental health were negatively influenced by self-differentiation. Specifically, the variable significant affecting the husbands' mental health was the emotional reactivity of self-differentiation and the variable significant wives' mental health was the emotional cut-off of self-differentiation. These findings confirmed the concept of self-differentiation in applying to mental health of elderly couples.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

Objectives: This study investigated the influence of oral exercise programs with whole-body exercises on the mental health of the elderly. Methods: Elderly individuals aged 65 years or older were assigned to an experimental group and a control group. Oral exercises with whole-body exercises were conducted in the experimental group for 40 minutes, twice weekly, during 5 weeks from May to June 2021. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, the oral health related quality of life (OHIP-14, GOHAI), mental health, happiness, and social support of the elderly were explored both before and after the execution of the program in the experimental group. A paired sample t-test was performed to check the changes in the factors investigated, both before and after the execution of the program in the two groups. Results: The values of difference between the experimental and control group were compared in relation to the dependent variables, before and after the execution of the oral exercise program with the whole-body exercises. It was found that statistically significant differences in the OHIP-14 (p=0.163), GOHAI (p=0.156), and feelings of happiness in the elderly (p=0.280) were not evident in the experimental group. However, statistically significant differences emerged with regard to the mental health and provision of social support of the elderly (p<0.05). Conclusions: It was found that the oral exercise program with whole-body exercises executed in this study were effective in improving the mental health and social support of the elderly. However, no significant differences were shown in oral health relating to quality of life and feelings of happiness. It is considered that these findings need to be verified by means of future long-term studies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.440-448
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in elderly Asian American and non-Hispanic White cancer survivors. Methods: We conducted cross-sectional secondary data analyses using the combined datasets from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey. Results: Elderly Asian American cancer survivors reported a lower mental HRQoL but a comparable physical HRQoL relative to elderly non-Hispanic White cancer survivors. Stress factors, such as comorbidities, difficulties with activities of daily living, and a history of depressive symptoms, along with coping resources like self-rated health and the ability to take the survey in English, were significantly associated with mental and physical HRQoL. Among elderly Asian American cancer survivors, a significantly lower mental HRQoL was observed among those taking the survey in the Chinese language. Conclusions: The findings suggest that race exerts a differential impact on HRQoL. Interventions should be designed to address the distinct cultural, linguistic, and systemic needs of elderly Asian American cancer survivors. Such an approach could assist in reducing cancer-related health disparities.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.129-147
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• 2013

The primary focus of the study assesses how individual spouses' and their partners' marital adjustment influence their own and their mental health. The study also examines whether this influence was mediated by the relationship with their adult-children. Data were collected from 271 dyads of elderly couples by using a self-report questionnaire. Marital adjustment was measured in terms of intimacy and comparison level of marriage. Mental health was measured in terms of depressive mood, anxiety, and somatization. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) analysis revealed that marital adjustment was positively associated with one's own mental health and with one's own relationship with their adult-children, but not with their partner's. On the other hand, the relationship with adult-children was positively associated with one's own and with their partner's mental health. Furthermore, analysis of the mediating model using APIM indicated that marital adjustment through one's own adult-children relationship had direct and indirect effects on one's own mental health. It is interesting to note that the wives' mental health were directly influenced by their partners' relationship with adult-children. However, the effect of the husbands' mental health was not significant. These findings highlight dyadic interdependence among spouses' perceptions of marital and adult-children relationship with their mental health. The results suggest implications for educators and clinicians working with elderly couples to improve their psychological and relational health.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.115-129
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• 1996

This study was designed to provide the material for the development of policies for the improvement of the quality of life the elderly by identifying the relationship among general characteristics, mental health, physical health and social health which exert an effect on the improvement of the quality of old people’s lives, development of a model capable of enhancing the quality of life for the elderly and establishing the future direction of health education. 1000 old people who were more than 60 years old were selected as subjects for this study, and the interview and inquire methods using the questionnaire and the self-completion method were employed to obtain data. 1. It was shown that there was a significant difference between the home elderly and Institutionalized elderly in terms of all measured items except stress item of general characteristic, as well as on almost measured items of physical health, mental health and social health, and it was shown that there was the interaction between departments. 2. Since it was shown that general characteristics, mental health, physical and social health were interrelated, it can be seen that one characteristic is mutually related to other characteristics.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.805-822
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• 2009

This study aims to investigate the mental health level of the elderly people living alone and examine the difference in mental health level by socio-demographic factors and analyze the factors impacting on mental health level. The study subjects were 131 elderly people living alone who lived in "G" city. Symptom Check List-90-Revision(SCL-90-R) was used to measure mental health level. The results of this study were as follows. First, the study subjects' mental health level(3.53, 5 rating scale) was very severe and this means the mental health level of elderly people living alone is more severe than the mental health level of general elderly people. The study subjects showed depression symptom most seriously and also had severe somatization symptom. Second, there was significant difference in mental health level by gender and education level among socio-demographic factors. Third, in the final regression model, statistically significant factors impacting on the mental health level of the elderly people living alone were life satisfaction, ADL, IADL, welfare service support, informal support, contact frequency with children, duration of living alone, subjective state of economy. And comprehensive(macro and micro) implications were recommended.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.478-489
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a Health Maintenance Program on physical functions and mental health of the elderly in nursing homes. Method: Sixty elderly(over 65 years old) in a randomized control study participated in a 16-week group-based intervention including functional exercises and health education. The participants were divided into 3 groups(Health Maintenance Program Group, Supportive Music Exercise Group, and Control Group) of 20 elderly each. Data was collected from Dec. 1st, 2005 to Mar, 30th, 2006. Physical function of lower body strength was assessed using a 30-second chair test, flexibility was assessed using a sit-and-reach test, and static balance was assessed by the ability to balance on one leg with open and closed eyes. Depression was assessed using the Korean Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale and self esteem was assessed using Rosenberg's Self Esteem Questionnaire. Data was analyzed by Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA, and Repeated measure two factor analysis. Results: A Health Maintenance Program significantly increased muscle strength, flexibility and static balance, but depression and self-esteem scores were not significantly changed. Conclusion: Findings demonstrated that a Health Maintenance Program was more effective on physical function than mental health of the elderly in nursing homes.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.121-128
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• 2021

To investigate the relationship between mental health and oral health problems in the elderly, this study was conducted using raw data from the 7th 3rd(2018) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, targeting 753 elderly people aged 65 and over. For data analysis, complex sample analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 22.0 program. In the case of chewing problem, the odds ratio increased in the group with high stress perception and depression(p<0.05). In the case of speaking problem, the odds ratio increased in the group that received mental health counseling(p<0.05). As a result of this study, it was found that there is a relationship between mental health and oral health problems in the elderly. Therefore, it is thought that it is necessary to improve the quality of life through the development of programs to improve the mental health of the elderly and oral health problems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.9-17
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This research was designed to study the correlations between physical activities such as foot sensory impairment, balance and ambulatory abilities, as well as fall risk factors and mental activities such as cognitive performance and depression in order to provide fundamental data for the prevention of falling in the elderly. METHODS: A total of 36 elderly people over the age of 65 years who voluntarily joined the research were selected as subjects. Sensory perception in both feet was measured by using a monofilament in 10 parts with each part given one point. The points for each foot were integrated to analyze the correlations between physical and mental activities indices, and the results were analyzed by using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The results of this research show that the extent to which senses in feet were impaired was correlated to TUG, a functional activity index involved in tranfers, gait, and turning movements, which was correlated to BBS (balance index) as well as MMSE-K and K-GDS (mental activities index). BBS was interrelated to FES-K (physical activities index) and MMSE-K. The muscular strength of the right ankle dorsiflexor had mutual relations with FES-K. CONCLUSION: The results of this research indicate that TUG is widely correlated to foot sensory impairment as well as general physical and mental activities in elderly people. BBS was also shown to be correlated with TUG, FES-K, and MMSE-K. Thus, it might be necessary that TUG and BBS be included as two items in physical and mental check-ups for the elderly, and further studies on correlations using evaluation items for physical and mental activities should lead to the simplification of the evaluation criteria.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.899-910
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the rates of perceived stress of elderly people over 65 years old and to confirm the influence of stress on general health and oral health status. Methods: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey for 2014, 1,472 people over 65 years of age were selected as final subjects. Stress was used as an independent variable and dependent variables were included physical health (perceived health status), mental health (depression), and oral health (perceived oral health status). The following confounding variables were adjusted for the current study: demographic characteristics (gender, age, education level, house income) and health - related characteristics (drinking, smoking, exercise, frequency of tooth brushing, using oral care product, dental exam, comorbidity, restrict activity). Complex sampling analysis was applied and logistic regression was performed to determine the effects of stress on physical health, mental health and oral health status. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% Confidence Interval, 95% CI) were calculated. Results: Logistic regression indicated that stress was significantly associated with low physical health (OR=2.18, 95%CI: 1.49-3.20), low mental health (OR=8.68, 95%CI: 4.98-15.11), low oral health (OR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.06-2.21) after adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusions: The perceived stress of the elderly was found to be related to the general health and oral health status. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate stress as a predictor of health risk for the health promotion of the elderly on multidisciplinary assessment and continuous evaluation. In addition, health support policies should be provided to achieve good health status for elderly.