• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.329-347
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to see if we can predict the health of seniors of community by analyzing the connection between social network degree and mental and physical health of old people who live in the areas of Gangwha Island. The subjects of the study were men and women aged 65 or over, a total of 643 that resided in Ganghwa A-county. The survey was conducted on Korean Social Life, Health and Aging Project from the year 2011 to 2012. Regression analysis was carried out using the data. The analysis results were as follows. First, it showed the relationships between income, gender, age out of demographic variables used as control variable and old persons'physical health. The research results showed that physical health was better in case of the higher incomes, men, and lower age. Second, out of demographic variables, educational background, income, age was shown to correlate with mental health. The research results showed that mental health was better in case of the higher incomes, higher educational background, and lower age. Third, in social network including direction, both out-degree and in-degree were shown to predict old people's physical and mental health. The results of this study suggest that not only out-degree but also in-degree should be considered in predicting the health of elderly persons by a person's human relationship. Also, two indicators of degree are meaningful in the dimension of health promotion and welfare of the old in that they can be used for finding isolated individuals that can be physically and mentally vulnerable.