• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.565-574
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• 2018

Previous studies have shown that forest therapy program can help prevent dementia. However, few studies have focused on low-income elderly people living alone. The current study examined the meanings that the elderly living alone receiving medical care assigned to the urban forest therapy program, as a way to understand the pathways that nature-based intervention affect preventing dementia. Twenty-one participants were recruited and they participated in a five-week urban forest therapy program. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 21 participants who experienced the urban forest therapy program, and analyzed qualitative data using thematic analysis. Results showed that all themes identified were related to connectedness with oneself, neighbors and nature. Awarenesses of change were consisted of positive and negative themes. The themes of positive awareness were improvements of mental and emotional condition, feelings of isolation and loneliness, and health-related lifestyle. The negative themes were terminations of short-term programs and inconvenient access to the urban forest. Based on these data, we suggest an urban green welfare framework for future research and interventions for preventing dementia of underprivileged elderly group.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.180-186
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to identify factors affecting suicidal ideation of the low-income elderly. Methods: The study subjects were lowest-income(basic living allowance) and lower-income elders who were registered for home visiting services at five District Health Centers in Seoul. Interview data were collected from 280 elders and analyzed. Using SPSS/WIN 21, $x^2$-test and t-test were conducted to analyze the relationship between the subjects' characteristics and their suicidal ideation, and logistic regression was done to identify factors affecting suicidal ideation. Results: Of the subjects, 48.6% had suicidal ideation for the last one year. Self-evaluated psychological status, quality of sleep, depression, and loneliness were affecting factors to the subjects' suicidal ideation. Conclusion: Psychological and social factors are strongly related to the suicidal ideation of the elderly who are living alone in metropolitan areas. Therefore, home visiting services should supply physical, psychological and social cares continuously to the low-income elderly, especially those who live alone in metropolitan areas.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.435-441
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of recreational therapy as part of Social Adult Day Care Program administered in the state of New York for the Korean American elderly living in the United States. The study was conducted in a nonequivalent control group posttest-only design from February to April, 2017. The participants included 35 subjects in the experimental group and 35 subjects in the control group; among the sample, 66 participants' data were analyzed. The average age of subjects who participated in this study was 79.4 years, and the average duration of residence in the United States was 24.6 years. Based on the study results, the recreational therapy program provided by the day care center was found to have a positive effect on the participant's daily life performances, depression and loneliness. Therefore, a variety of cultural sensitive recreational therapy program for the elderly population should be developed and operated in the future; furthermore, evidence-based research should be conducted to evaluate the effects of these programs.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.196-216
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to analyze the social activity, self-efficacy and psychological well-being of old aged people living in Seoul area. For the study, 396 questionnaires were collected to analyzed the effect of demographic characteristics and social activity on psychological well-being, and the moderate effect of self-efficacy on them. The result were as follows: First, there were partial differences in psychological well-being according to demographic characteristics. Second, satisfaction for their lives was positively affected by vocation, health, youth and the social activity. Third, a spouse, health, income and social activity had a negative effect on their loneliness. Forth, a spouse, children, health, more social activity had a negative effect on their depression. Finally, the self-efficacy had a moderate effect on the relation between social activity and loneliness, and depression respectively.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the predictors of physical activity between urban and rural dwelling Korean older adults. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. A self-report questionnaire or face to face interviews were used to collect data from 336 older adults (urban: 129, rural: 207) who visited public health centers or welfare centers in 2008. Results: About half of the participants (urban: 50.4%, rural: 47.3%) were classified as the minimally active group. Cognitive function (odds ratio [OR]=1.106, p=.004) and loneliness (OR=0.965, p=.044) were predicting factors for physical activity in rural elderly. Age (OR=0.326, p=.037), gender (OR=2.841, p=.021) and depression (OR= 0.799, p<.001) were significant factors predicting physical activity in urban elders. Conclusion: These findings provide information that is relevant in designing interventions to enhance physical activity in older adults. There is a need to develop effective mutifaceted physical activity interventions that include reducing psychological barriers such as depression, loneliness.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2018

With the increase of the elderly population, problem on social isolation and loneliness have grown in Korea. Elderly dwelling issues have also been gaining increased attention since dwelling environment is discussed in conjunction with elderly's health and life quality. In this study, the data was collected retrospectively of 350 elderlies who live as single households during 1 September, 2017 to 30 September to identify how to define and measure dwelling depression. The content validity and reliability were evaluated and the correlation between the depression and the dwelling satisfaction were compared. Lastly, a regression analysis on the classification of the dwelling depression was performed. The results show that depression appearing in elderly are more likely to experience a dwelling unsatisfaction. Our results contribute to an understanding and measurement of the dwelling depression which has not been sufficiently specified.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.282-291
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relation between sex perception, sexual life satisfaction, and life satisfaction of the elderly. Methods: The respondents were 227 elders aged over 65. Data were collected from February 10 to December 15, 2007 by interviews and questionnaires. Results: Of the respondents, 18.8% still had sex life and 25.5% wanted to have a date. The main reason to have a date was to relieve loneliness, and the percentage of those who wanted a date was 58.3. The perception level of sex life was 2.27 (men: 2.51, women: 2.14), the satisfaction level of sex life was 2.74 (men: 2.89, women: 2.64), and the level of life satisfaction was 2.98 (men: 3.10, women: 2.92). There was a positive correlation between the perception level of sex life and the satisfaction level of sex life; a positive correlation between the satisfaction level of sex life and the level of life satisfaction; and no correlation between the perception level of sex life and the level of life satisfaction. Conclusion: This study provides a base supporting the usefulness of various nursing intervention programs to enhance the quality of life through making elderly people have a positive perception of sex life.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.307-312
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to find out the moving motivation of senior cohousing inhabitants in Scandinavian countries, which experienced change of typical nuclear family structure and higher vocational activity rates of women, earlier than East Asian countries. Cohousing schemes were evolved as an alternative housing to reduce housework for working women, and to reduce loneliness of elderly people by promoting active mutual relationship among inhabitants in the community. This paper described why the elderly moved to senior cohousing in Sweden and Denmark. The project was carried out by social survey. 935 postal questionnaires were sent from April to May 2002 to 28 senior cohousing communities throughout Denmark and Sweden. Of those, 536 replies (57.3%) were collected and analyzed by SPSS program. 19 moving motivations were discussed connected with the variables such as characteristics of residents, community-initiative, and dwelling size. As a result ideology of senior cohousing, wanting to be free from housing management and physical attraction of the building could be interpreted as main reasons to make inhabitants move to senior cohousing community. The important variables affecting moving motivation were found out as living situation and community-initiative. This findings could be used for some information to architects, designers and decision makers who intend to develope senior cohousing projects in the near future in Korea as well as Scandinavian countries.

• 한국노년학
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.819-834
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the degree of successful aging and to investigate influencing factors of it in elderly to types of gender. Subjects were 73 male elderly and 77 female elderly, total 150 elderly living at K city in C province, from May to June, 2012. The data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 18.0 program for $X^2$ test, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. The correlated factors of successful aging among male elders included life satisfaction(r=.525, p<.001), family support(r=.355, p=.004), depression(r=-.555, p<.001) and loneliness(r=-.437, p<.001). Those of successful aging among female elders included life satisfaction(r=.607, p<.001), leisure satisfaction(r=.679, p<.001), family support(r=.784, p<.001), depression(r=-.516, p<.001), loneliness(r=-.644, p<.001) and self-transcendence(r=.576, p<.001). Life satisfaction and depression were statistically significant influencing factors of successful aging in male elders. Especially in the cases of female elders, life satisfaction, depression, family support and self-transcendence affected to successful aging. Life satisfaction, depression, family support, and self-transcendence were explained 52.9% in perception of successful aging among elders. This study suggests that life satisfaction, depression, family support, and self-transcendence will be considered in enhancing the successful aging promoting care and welfare designed for types of gender.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.295-302
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• 2021

The purpose of this paper is to pay attention to the problems of the elderly in our society, which is facing an aged society, to understand the lives of the elderly and to recognize the need for retirement and death preparation. It reviews and analyzes the story of So-young, the main character of the movie "Killing Woman," according to the context of the work. The narrative of the film illustrates the problems of suffering for the elderly, such as poverty, disease, dementia, loneliness, and fear of death. In the face of the ultra-aged era, institutional supplementation measures for underprivileged senior citizens at the national level should be established, and social interest and safety nets should be secured, and specific retirement preparations are needed personally. Furthermore, support for research and education of old age preparation education programs and death education programs to prepare for retirement and death should be continuously provided.