• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.159-174
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the health care expenditure of elderly single and elderly couple households whose head is more than 60 years old. The data analyzed for the study were Korean Retirement and Income Study(KRelS) conducted in 2007 by National Pension Corporation. The major finding of this study were as follows: First, the amount of health care expenditure of elderly single households was lower than that of elderly couple households. However, ratio of health care expenditure to total consumption expenditure of elderly single households was larger than that of elderly couple households. Second, the ratio of health care expenditure in consumption expenditure in this study was larger than the ratios in past analyse showed in the previous studies. Third, common factor affecting on health care expenditure of elderly single and elderly couple households was the existence of the family member with chronic disease or handicap. The health care expenditure of elderly singer households was influenced by income, gender and the ownership of national health insurance. The influence of income for elderly singer households seemed to be greater than for elderly couple households. The variables which affected health care expenditure of elderly couple households were age and housing tenure status. The amount and ratio health care expenditure were increased as the age increases. These results show that the health care expenditures for each groups varied according to socio-demographic variables and health-related behavior variables. It is suggested that there should be a discriminative health care policy for each elderly single and elderly couple households. In addition, the health care policy for the elderly households of which member has a chronic disease is certainly necessary. Especially a health care plan for the elderly single households with lower income is in need. For the elderly couple households, the priority group of health care policy would be the high age group.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.511-531
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• 2014

This study explores supportive and conflictual network structures of elderly single and couple households and analyzes the effects of supportive and conflictual networks on suicidal thoughts by gender and family type. The analysis considered a sample of 522 individuals over the age of 60 who did not live with their adult children. The statistical methods used to analyze data were descriptive statistics, a t-test, a chi-square test and a regression analysis using SPSS WIN 20.0. The results are as follows. First, men and elderly single households had support networks that were smaller than those of women and elderly couple households. The conflictual network of elderly couples households was larger than that of elderly single households. In addition, the larger the network, the more the conflictual was. Second, elderly single households thought about suicide more often than elderly couple households. Third, economic status, the number of adult children, the size of conflictual network and subjective health had considerable influence on suicidal thoughts of elderly single and couple households. The size of the conflictual network had a greater effect on suicidal thoughts of elderly individuals than that of the supportive network. These results have important policy implications for elderly single and couple households.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.557-572
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• 2011

This study examines the effect of adult-children support network on the psychological well-being of the single and couple elderly households in rural areas. Adult-children support networks include both structural and functional characteristics. For the purpose of this research, 476 participants, who are older than 60 years old, living in rural areas, were selected. The results of this study are summarized as follows: the average degree of psychological well-being of the rural elderly was high. Emotional support from adult children was higher than economic or instrumental support. In the case of the single elderly households, adult children's economic support was the strongest variable affecting the psychological well-being. In the case of the couple elderly households, adult children's emotional support had the greater effect on psychological well-being. On the basis of this analysis, policy implications regarding the single and couple elderly households in rural areas were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.139-152
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• 2002

This study was performed to estimate living cost for the elderly couple living in a city in Korea. Living cost means expenditure per month for elderly couple. It was assumed that the elderly couple will need different living cost according to their circumstances. The circumstances are health status, retirement status, and the level of living they want. The subjects were the elderly couple households over the age 65 of household head. Total number of subject was 1,649 households. Used data was Annual Report surveyed by National Statistical Office on the Family Income and Expenditure. Analysis of data was done through frequency, percentage, means, median using SAS Program. The results of this study were as follows: Their standard living cost was 844,980 won by pure relative standard line and 842,300 won by quasi relative standard lines. And minimum living cost was 713,400 won by the former, by the latter was 557,600 won (3/2 of median). And abundant Living cost was 1,068,020 won by the former, by the latter 1,263,450 won. The living cost of elderly households was about 81-83%, comparing with non-elderly households. Among the item of expenditure, the proportion of housing and medical care cost was larger than any other items.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.111-130
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• 2001

Using the 1996 Expenditure Survey of Urban Famines from the Korea National Statistics Office, this study examines the economic status and the inequality of the elderly households. To explain the inequality of the single elderly households, this study divides the elderly into three groups of single, couple, and Living with admit children, and compares the total household income, total household expenditure and the net saving amount of these three groups. The results of Gini coefficients and Lorenz curries show that the inequality is higher in the single elderly household than couple elderly households or living with adult children elderly households. To investigate the reason of the inequality, this study compares the income, expenditure, and net saving amount by working condition of the household head in each three group. The result implies the need of employment to get household income especially for the single elderly who are in the higher inequality economic condition.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2009

This study aimed to identify and compare variables affecting life satisfaction of older women by focusing on household types and poverty levels. The study used data from the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging administered by the Korea Labor Institute in 2006. The data for 1,017 older women ages over 65 including 427 single households and 590 couple households was analyzed. First, interaction effects of household types and poverty levels on life satisfaction were statistically significant. For the non-poverty households of older women, there was no explicit difference between single households and couple households in life satisfaction, but for the poverty households, single households were lower in life satisfaction than couple households. Second, as a result of reviewing four groups of older women (poverty-single household, poverty-couple household, non-poverty-single household, and non-poverty-couple household), besides religion, it was found that there were significant differences in age, education level, number of children, health level, residence area, and status of economic activity. Third, when analyzing variables affecting life satisfaction, common predictors for the four groups were health level and ownership of house. Older women who perceived to be healthier and owned their own homes were higher in life satisfaction. For poverty-single households, older women with over middle school graduation were also higher in life satisfaction, but for poverty-couple households, older women with over middle school graduation and more children were higher.

• Design Convergence Study
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.19-41
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• 2016

This study aimed to diagnose the housing conditions of the low income single or couple elderly households. Specifically, this study divided the elderly households into total 8 housing situations according to the three factors of residential area, household composition and income level, and compare the housing satisfaction level by household situation. This study was conducted in the form of the 1:1 interview with structured questionnaire and the field study, targeting the low income single or couple elderly households over 65 years old in urban and rural areas. The 80 collected data was analyzed using the SPSS statistics program. First, the households living in the urban areas and those in the rural areas had different housing conditions. Secondly, there was a clear difference in housing conditions between the single elderly households and couple elderly households. Third, the housing conditions were different depending on the gap in income level. This research is expected to be used as a basic resource to understand their various and differentiated demands and plan the housing environment to properly meet the demand.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.173-190
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• 2001

The purpose of the study was to provide the informations about the economic status of elderly households. Utilizing the 1996 national household data, economic status was investigated by the components of two financial statements: the income and expense statement and the balance sheet statement. Thus it included incomes, consumption, propensity to consume, savings(financial assets), debt amount and net-savings. The elderly households were compared with the nonelderly households. The subgroups of the elderly were also compared. They were divided based on the employment status of the head and household composition. The results showed that the economic status of the elderly was worse compared to the nonelderly. There were also variations among the subgroups of the elderly households. In general, the economic status of retired households and single households were worse than those of employed households and of the households composed of couple and the elderly living with children.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.33-41
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of space usage patterns by types of elderly households(single or couple). For the study, 74 elders who were older than 65 were selected and their living behaviors at their home during a day (24 hours) were analyzed. Respondents were classified into 6 types based on a combination of their household type, income level and health status. The results showed that the elderly residents tended to live a well-regulated life, however, each type had unique time and space use pattern. For example, the more the elder residents were healthy, the more they used many rooms. Frail elderly residents spent most of the day in their bedroom. Also, if they had a spouse, each one tended to use a separate private room for his or her daily life whether they shared a bedroom or not.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.31-38
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics and changes of elderly households in rural area. The elderly were classified as elderly living alone, elderly couple living together, and elderly living with their children. Data from the survey of Ministry of Health and Welfare conducted in 1998, 2008, 2017 were used for the analysis. The subjects of the study included a sample of 9,401 respondents who represent aged 65 or more in Korea. The result of analysis was as follows; First, over the past 20 years, there has been no significant difference in the composition of the sexes of elderly in rural area, and aging is becoming more serious. Second, elderly living with children continue to decrease, and elderly couple are increasing. The number of elderly living alone is on the increase, but it tends to decrease in 2017. Third, the proportion of houses in elderly households is still very high, but it is gradually decreasing and the proportion of apartments is increasing. Fourth, the frequency of communication with children tended to increase slightly in all household types, while the frequency of encounter decreased slightly in 2008 and then increased in 2017. Fifth, the health status and economic status of the elderly have been gradually improved over the past 20 years. Finally, the emotional support in all elderly households is maintained constantly, but the instrumental support is gradually weakened.