• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.257-262
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• 2020

This study recruited adults aged 35 to 64 living in Daegu and Gyeongsang buk-do to analyze the images of the elderly perceived by the mid and older- aged adults and their preparation for later life. The results of this study are as follows: First, as for the images of elderly people recognized by the research subjects, psychological images were the most positive, followed by physical and social images. Those with a higher education level, full-time job, and parents alive had more positive images of the elderly. The psychological images were better in those married compared to singles or divorcees, and the higher the age considered as elderly, the better the psychological and social images of the elderly. Second, preparation for later life in the mid and older-aged adults was better in order of emotional and physical preparation, whereas economic and leisure and social preparation were not enough. Those who are female, those with a higher education level, higher average monthly household income, professional job, and full-time job, and those who have an older age in mind as a definition of elderly have been better prepared for later life. Third, it was found that the sub-factors of their images of elderly people and preparation for later life affected each other, and the more positive their images of elderly people, the better they had been prepared for later in life. The results of this research suggests a desirable direction for improving the images of the elderly, implicating the necessity of exploring measures to provide individual and social support and developing educational programs for successful life after retirement.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.235-244
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine the elderly generation's understanding of game information and for recognition of computer based games as a recreation activity for the mid-to late adults. This study investigated game use and personal thoughts about the influences of computer games on each generation. The study was conducted by survey with the subjects being 242 adults aged 40 to 72 living in Busan and Kyung-nam area. Findings indicated that 43.5% of adults used computers to access games. The purposes for computer use were: business, searching portal sites, and games. 44.8% of adults knew about game information education. 67.4% of adults who had someone as a game information resource reported that their children provided the game information. Most adults used arcade games and recognized the influences of game information as positive to adults and the elderly but negative to children and adolescents. Finally, the adults aged "after mid-life" who knew about game information education showed higher ego-integrity and psychological well-being. These findings have implications for the development of elderly education programs aimed at promoting quality of life for older adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The progression of the center of pressure (COP) velocity of the stance phase may have important roles for predicting gait speed in older adults with cognitive decline. This study was conducted to identify the correlation between gait speed and the velocity of COP progression during the stance phase in older adults with cognitive decline. METHODS: Forty adults aged 65 years or older (twenty participants without cognitive decline, 20 participants with cognitive decline) were recruited. The COP progression velocity was measured using an F-scan pressure-sensitive insole system. The stance phase was divided into four sub-stages. (loading response, mid-stance, terminal stance, and pre-swing). Gait speed, double support phase, and cadence were also measured. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Gait speed was associated with the COP progression velocity in midstance (r = .719, p < .05), cadence (r = .719, p < .05) and the COP progression velocity in loading response velocity (r = .515, p < .05) in older adults with cognitive decline. However, no correlation was found in older adults without cognitive decline. In multiple regression analysis using gait speed as a dependent variable, the COP progression velocity in midstance and cadence were significant predictors of gait speed, with the COP progression velocity being the most significant predictor. CONCLUSION: The COP progression velocity is an important factor for predicting gait speed in older adults with cognitive decline, suggesting that the cognitive function influences gait speed and the velocity of COP progression.

• Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.149-159
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• 2016

Background: Since the mid-20th century, the ways in which social networks and older adults' health are related have been widely studied. However, few studies investigate the relationship between self-rated health and position in a complete social network of one entire Korean rural village. This study highlights use of a complete network in health studies. Methods: Using the Korean Social Life and Health Project, the population-based data of adults aged 60 or older and their spouses in one myeon in Ganghwa island (Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, Korea), Incheon, Korea (with a 95% response rate), this study built a $1,012{\times}1,012$ complete social network matrix of the village. The data were collected from 2011 to 2012, and 731 older adults were analyzed. The ordered logistic models to predict self-rated health allowed us to examine social factors from socio-demographic to individual community activities, ego-centered network characteristics, and positions in a complete network. Results: From the network data, 5 network components were identified. Even after controlling for all other factors, if a respondent belonged to a segregated component, the probability that he or she reported good health dropped substantially. Additionally, high in-degree centrality was connected to greater self-rated health. Conclusion: This finding highlights the importance of social position not only from the respondents' point of view but also from the entire village's perspective. Even if a respondent maintained a large social network, when all of those social ties belonged to a segregated group in the village, the respondent's health suffered from this segregation.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.103-116
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to empirically describe the everyday life of middle-aged adults in terms of their time-use activities. From the original '2004 Time dairy' Data, developed by the Korean National Statistical Office (KNOS), 17,684 respondents aged between 35-59 were selected. In order to categorize their activity patterns, work/labour, domestic labour, and spare leisure time were classified according to the action classification system. As a result, four dominant types were found: namely work-leisure, work-oriented, family-oriented, and leisure-oriented activities. Results of multinomial logistic analysis revealed that gender, age, socioeconomic status, job characteristic, and family structure were the major determinants on time-use. Compared with work-leisure, young middle aged women holding a part-time job with less income tended to be involved in a family-centered time use. Dual earners with lower SES status were likely to have work-oriented time schedules. Older men with relatively lower income were more likely to be involved in leisure-oriented activities rather than work-leisure activities. Multitasking behavior was a significant variable in explaining the four different types of time-use. Work-oriented group showed the highest level of time pressure as well as fatigue. Group differences in these measures, however, was not as large as expected.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.691-706
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• 2020

This study aims to explore health behavior profiles and the association between the derived profiles and living arrangement among middle-aged and older adults. Using data from wave 6 (2016) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, latent profile analyses were applied to identify patterns of health behaviors and multinomial logistic regression models were conducted to predict profile membership using living arrangement (i.e., living alone, living with spouse only, living with family members) and sociodemographic characteristics. A sample of 7,048 respondents aged 55 and older were included in the study. Results revealed that Korean middle-aged and older adults can be grouped into four health behavior profiles: "High health-compromising" (4%), "Moderate health-compromising" (28%), "Low health-compromising" (65%), and "High physical activity" (3%). Also, living arrangement showed significant profile differences. Compared to the respondents living alone, those living with spouse only were more likely to belong to low and moderate levels of health-compromising behavior profiles than the "High physicial activity profile". Respondents living with family members were more likely to belong to the "High health-compromising profile" than the "High physical activity profile" compared to those living with spouse only. These findings indicate that living arrangement needs to be taken into consideration when developing health promoting programs and supports. Moreover, policy interventions suiting the needs of various sociodemographic subgroups are recommended.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.934-944
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Maintaining total muscle mass in the older adults with swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) is important for preserving swallowing function. Increasing protein intake can help sustain lean body mass in the older adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of various high-protein texture-modified foods (HPTMFs) on muscle mass and perform dietary assessment in ≥ 65-yrs-old patients with dysphagia. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Participants (n = 10) received the newly developed HPTMFs (average 595.23 ± 66.75 kcal/day of energy, 54.22 ± 6.32 g/day of protein) for 10 days. Relative handgrip strength (RHS), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), body composition, mini nutritional assessment (MNA), mini dietary assessment (MDA), and Euro Quality-of-Life questionnaire 5-dimensional classification (EQ-5D) were assessed. RESULTS: After 10 days, an increase in MUAC (26.36 ± 2.35 cm to 28.50 ± 3.17 cm, P = 0.013) and RHS (0.38 ± 0.24 kg/kg body weight to 0.42 ± 0.22 kg/kg body weight, P = 0.046) was observed. Although MNA, MDA, EQ-5D, subjective health status, muscle mass, and calf circumference showed a tendency to increase after intervention, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the HPTMFs can be used for improving the nutritional and health status in patients with dysphagia.