• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.11-20
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of Nordic walking on depression and the physical function of elderly patients with a high risk of depression. METHODS: This study was a blinded randomized allocation study; 32 elderly were assigned to a Nordic walking group (n = 17), consisting of 60 min Nordic walking (including warming up 5 min, warming down 5 min, and Nordic walking 50 min) two days per week for 12 weeks and general leisure group (n = 15), consisting of 60 min leisure program community center. The pre and post 12-week program, depression test, muscle strength (including grip test, and 30sec sit to stand), and balance (including Functional Reach test, and One Leg Standing test) were measured. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare within the group, and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare between the groups. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, only the Nordic walking group showed significant improvement in depression, muscle strength, and balance (p < .05). In the general leisure group, however, the left grip strength and Functional Reach Test (FRT) showed a significant decrease. The Nordic walking program was better than the general leisure group, and a significant difference was observed in depression, muscle strength, and balance between the two groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Nordic walking was effective for the elderly with a high risk of depression. Therefore, Nordic walking may be an option for preventing elderly mental disorders and functional improvement.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.412-421
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the status of Successful Aging among the elderly aged 65 and over in rural areas and to compare factors related with Successful Aging between "kyung-ro-dang" users and non-users. Methods: A total of 181 elderly aged 65 or older were selected from four districts (Heung-upri, Mejiri, Sajerri, and Daeanri) of Wonju city. A survey method using face to face interviews was applied to collect information. Successful aging was measured on a 5-point Likert-type scale using the successful aging scale developed for the Korean elderly, which indicates the higher the score, the higher the level of successful aging. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were computed; the level of significance was set at 5%. Hierarchical polynomial regression was applied to find out the factors associated with successful aging. Results: Of the total, 112 elders used kyung-ro-dang and 69 elders who did not use kyung-ro-dang. The level of successful aging of the elderly was higher among kyung-ro-dang users than non-users. The factors related to successful aging among kyung-ro-dang users were walking and social participation. Users who walk more than 4 times per week and social participation activities have a higher level of satisfaction. In the case of non-users, a higher level of monthly income, having a spouse, social support, and social participation associated with a higher level of successful aging. Conclusion: Monthly income, social participation, and social factors were found to be related to successful aging along with physical and mental health conditions among the elderly in rural areas. Therefore, it can be concluded that income, social as well as mental and physical factors, are more critical for successful aging in the rural community care in Korea.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.567-576
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• 2009

This study was conducted to reduce sodium (Na) intake and to establish healthy dietary lifestyles of children. To achieve these goals, we searched, collected, and analyzed the materials related to the Na education, based on which the research personnel-professors and graduate students in nutrition and child education and elementary school teachers discussed to figure out major topics, objectives, and detailed contents and activities appropriate for Na intake reduction. Also a survey was done on the sodium intake and nutrition knowledge of the elementary students. We also organized an advisory committee composed of 15 professionals in related fields to discuss the adequacy and validity of the specific contents. Finally, we systematically organized the contents and developed children's textbooks and teacher's guidebooks. Considering the different cognitive development stages of junior and senior elementary students, we developed two different textbooks for each of them which are easy to read and understand, fun to play with lots of activities, and designed to practice into daily life. The contents cover three major topics-the concept of Na, Na in food, Na in life and are composed of 6 units in total. To help teachers understand and instruct, teacher's guidebook contains an overview of the education, specific information and practical guidelines for each class. We developed these education materials with the aim of lowering children's Na consumption and eventually promoting their health welfare; hopefully we expect these materials would be useful for children's nutritional education in the field.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.24 no.3 s.81
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• pp.73-82
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the related variables of university students' coping behavior concerning job-searching problems. The subjects were 436 senior students (212 men and 224 women) enrolled in a university in Gyeongbuk Province. Survey questionnaires were used to measure undergraduate students' coping behavior concerning job-searching problems, work commitment, their will to accept downward employment, sex role identity, grade, sex, perceived SES, and major. Data were analyzed by means, standard deviations, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe' test, and regression. Results are summarized as follows: (1) Male students' level of active and supportive coping behavior was higher than female students'. Male students' level of evasive coping behavior was lower than female students'. Students who perceive their economic condition as negative were higher in active and supportive coping behavior and lower in evasive coping behavior than the students who perceive their economic condition as positive. (2) The students who were strong in work commitment were higher in active coping behavior, and lower in evasive coping behavior than those who were not. (3) The students who were willing to accept downward employment were higher in active coping behavior than those who were not.(4) The students' coping behavior concerning job-searching problems differed according to their sex role identity. (5) Work commitment and sex role identity were influential variables on university students' job-coping behavior.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2014

This study applied the data of 384 senior citizens over 65 years old having difficulties in everyday life, among the ageing research panel of Korea Labor Institute in 2000, due to their visual impairment in the final analysis to investigate factors affecting the use of vision aids by the aged with visual impairment. The analysis was based on the service usage Andersen-Newman model and the factors were classified into preceding factors, potential factors and desire factors. To examine the effects of each factors on the use of vision aids by the aged with visual impairment, logistic regression analysis was carried out. In the analysis results, the level of vision aids usage was shown to increase significantly with unemployed status and higher education level in the preceding factors, lower subjective stratum consciousness in the potential factors, and higher cognitive function in the desire factors. The limitation and implication of this study were suggested on the basis of the results.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.249-259
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the foot-reflexology massage on sleep, depression and constipation in community-dwelling elders. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was conducted. Participants were 46 old adults, aged >65 years who were recruited from two senior welfare centers in D metropolitan city (experimental group=24, control group=22). The intervention was conducted in 10 sessions over 2 weeks, taking 20 min per session. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2-test$, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient with the SPSS 22.0 Windows program. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in sleep (t=-5.60, p<.001), depression (t=3.93, p<.001), and constipation (t=4.90, p<.001) after 2 weeks of the foot-reflexology massage. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the foot-reflexology massage is an effective intervention program for improving sleep, depression and constipation of old adults.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.92-103
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Methods: The data were collected from 307 older adults aged 65 years or older with chronic musculoskeletal pain, who visited senior welfare centers in two cities. We used self-rated questionnaires including NRS for pain, WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life, Pain Response Inventory for coping responses to pain, and MSPSS for social support. Stepwise multiple regression analysis were performed using SPSS/WIN 23.0 to identify factors affecting the study subjects' quality of life. Results: The regression model explained 43% of quality of life, which was statistically significant (F=34.11, p<.001). Educational level of high school (${\beta}=.13$, p=.006), pain (${\beta}=-.13$, p=.013), restriction of function (${\beta}=-.13$, p=.028), accommodative pain coping (${\beta}=.24$, p<.001), family support (${\beta}=.18$, p<.001), colleague's support (${\beta}=.25$, p<.001), and perceived health status (${\beta}=.25$, p<.001) were identified as influential factors on subjects' quality of life. Conclusion: Developing integrative interventions is necessary to improve accommodative pain coping skills and to engage family and colleague in support for positive perception of older adults' health status and management of symptoms.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.177-199
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine generational differences between the youth and the middle-aged in attitude and voluntary behavior toward the elderly, to analyze the socio-demographic and psychological characteristics influencing attitude and behavior toward the elderly, and to find out whether the attitude of the youth and the middle-aged toward the elderly was the decisive factor in their behavior toward them. For this study, we surveyed 252 youth (between the ages of 20 and 30) and 314 middle-aged people (between the ages of 40 and 60). The major results were as follows: First, the psychological factor had a stronger influence on the positive attitude toward the elderly than did the socio-demographic factor. The psychological factor had an especially significant impact on the attitude of the middle-aged population. Second, youths' attitude toward the elderly influenced their behavior toward them; whereas, for the middle-aged, the socio-demographic characteristic was a decisive factor. Third, the youths' area of residence was an important factor in their attitude toward the elderly; the youth in the metropolitan area had a more negative attitude than did their counterpart. Therefore, it is necessary to develop programs to improve the negative attitude toward the elderly for the youth residing in the metropolitan area. The middle-aged need more easily accessible voluntary work programs by which a positive attitude toward the elderly leads to immediate action.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-119
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• 2013

The actual time fathers spend in childcare has not increased much in spite of recent attention paid to nurturing their children and changes in the fathers' role. In this study, parenting time is measured by time spent in childcare, shared housework, and shared leisure. In this way, this study seeks to analyze trends in fathers' time spent with children and the factors that influence fathers' participation in parenting. The data source for this study was the 2009 Korean Time Use Survey. The main results of this research are as follows: First, when measuring childcare time as a primary activity, fathers' time spent in parenting averaged 17 minutes on weekdays and 32 minutes on Sundays. This extended to 44 minutes on weekdays and 166 minutes on Sundays when including the secondary childcare time and the shared time with their children while doing housework or leisure. Second, fathers' probability of participating in childcare was higher for fathers who had shorter working hours, younger children, higher spouse average monthly income, and a college or higher education level. The variable that influenced fathers' participation in shared housework on weekdays was working hours. On Sundays, the variables were working hours, age of the youngest child, and the type of occupation. Fathers' participation in shared leisure was influenced by father's working hours, number of children, age of the youngest child, and type of occupation on weekdays. On Sundays, it was influenced by working hours and the age of the youngest child.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.147-172
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the relative influences of variables that affect baby boomers' perceptions and preparations for later life planning. An age-group comparison was made to examine differences in later life planning within baby boomers. 814 respondents were selected from The National Survey of Korean Families undertaken by the Ministry of Equality and Family in 2010. They were devided into two groups according to the year of their birth, the former baby boomers was 397 respondents who was born from 1955 to 1959, and the latter baby boomers was 417 respondents who was born from 1960 to 1963. The major results of this study were as follows: First, the former baby boomers was less likely to prepare for later life, while was more likely to be aware of their later life planning than the latter baby boomers. Second, educational attainment and the number of children affected the level of perceptions and preparations for later life planning of the former baby boomers, whereas sex and region affected those of the latter baby boomers. Third, household income and subjective awareness of economic status were the major determinants of the preparation level for later life by both the former and the latter baby boomers. Fourth, former baby boomers who had greater awareness of the need to support their parents and their children were more likely to prepare for later life. Fifth, baby boomers' subjective awareness of their economic status chiefly explained the gap between their level of perceptions and their preparation for later life, with the former baby boomers with more children and single-earner households more likely to show a gap between their level of needs and their preparation for later life.