• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.200-218
• /
• 2015

The purpose of the present study was to examine daily lives of elderly welfare recipients and their experiences with social welfare services. Researchers collected and analyzed data through individual interviews with 11 elderly welfare recipients. A major theme in the time context was "Daily lives enduring physical and mental sufferings alone and mismatches of social welfare services": 'Starting same tedious days: trading diligent work for basic living assistance', 'Forced ritual of having meals', 'Struggle with depressing night: not attentive welfare services at closing hours', 'Welfare services suspended in holidays', 'Mind and body withered by economic hardship in winter', 'Social support for enduring weary lives'. In the space context, a major themes was "Inadequate welfare services and social interaction in the context of social isolation": 'Unhygienic and unsafe living environment', 'Hiding places: spending tedious days in vacant lots', 'Community welfare centers useful only for healthy elderly', 'Differences and similarities of elderly in urban and rural areas', 'Receiving restricted medical services at hospitals', 'Hard-to-reach public institutions', 'ambivalence about living as welfare recipients'. Based on the findings, the researchers proposed implications for policy and practice to improve elderly welfare recipients' quality of life.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.351-364
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to learn about the decision factors affecting utilization of elderly welfare center of the elderly living in Gimpo city. The reason of the study is that the elderly welfare center as a provider of general welfare services could not only thinking about the state policy but also need to consider about the inherent role and function of the elderly. Especially for these elders living in rural areas, although the number of elderly welfare centers of the whole country has greatly increased in last 10 years, the effect and function of the facility are almost the same and they are still lack of leisure activities. This issue become a serious problem nowadays. For the above reasons, this article conducts a social survey of 360 elderly people over the age of 65 who lives in the Gimpo city which is a rural-urban type city. The research method is to examine the relationship between the predisposing factors, enabling factors and need factors of Andersen's behavior model with binary logistic regression analysis and the decision tree analysis. The result of binary logistic regression shows the most of factors of Andersen's model is significant. The factors of age, gender, education level in predisposing factors; monthly income in enabling factors and the reserve for old life, the preparation of economic activity for old life in need factors are significant. Then the result of decision tree analysis shows the interaction between factors; when the education level in predisposing factors is higher, the possibility of using of elderly welfare center becomes bigger. Also as the level of healthy promoting preparation in the need factors gets lower, the possibility of using of elderly welfare center still becomes bigger. Although differences were found in the interpretation of the results of regression analysis and decision tree analysis, the results of this study can still provide support for the necessity of elderly welfare centers providing integrated welfare services.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.617-627
• /
• 2001

This study examined health foods intakes and related variables among the middle aged(150 men and 159 women) in the Jeonbuk region. Health foods were classified into 4 groups including Chinese medicine(CM), toner foods(TF), vitamin or mineral supplements(VMS), and other manufactured health food supplements(MHFS). The number of people taking health foods were higher for those in their 50's than in their 40's. The consumption rate of TF in men was the highest among health foods, this result had significance. The reasons for taking health foods were recovery from fatigue, supplement of nutrients and making smooth body activity in general, but TF was used to increase of vigor. The consumption rate of health foods was a little different according to social-economic factors, namely, the consumption rate of CM was higher in people in rural than urban areas, those who graduated from middle school than university, blue color & self-employed as opposed to housewives and service workers, low level income than high level income, and Buddhism and no religion than Christian. The consumption rate had a correlation with the habits of smoking, alcohol drinking and exercise ; namely, the consumption rate of CM was higher than VMS and MHFS on smokers and alcohol drinkers. The more the frequency of exercise, the higher the consumption rate of TF, but the duration of the exercise was not correlated. This study suggests that middle aged people need nutritional education for the right recognition and selection of health foods and to consider the nature of each type of health foods.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.17-35
• /
• 2006

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the determining factors that have influence on elementary students who go without breakfast and identified their physical, mental and social health that may resulted by skipping breakfast. Methods: For data collection, total 855 elementary students at the 5th and 6th grade in an urban and a rural area were asked to join the survey using a self-administered questionnaire from March 25 to April 9, 2005. The data were analyzed through a series of statistical methods including frequency, percentage, chi-square$(X^2)$ test, t-test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: It was found that 24.0 % of respondents would skip breakfast, and influential socioeconomic factors on their skipped breakfast were economic level and mother's occupation. A group that has meals more with family everyday and a group that has breakfast served by mother as usual showed significantly low percentage of going without breakfast at statistical level(p<0.05). In case that other family members used to go without breakfast, there was a tendency to significantly high rate of skipped breakfast(p<0.01). And a group who got up early in the morning and a group who scored high points in the assessment of dietary habit showed significantly low percentage of skipped breakfast(p<0.01). In the result of multiple logistic regression analysis, the significant variables in urban area were economic level, person setting up breakfast, getting-up time and family members who would skip a meal. In rural area, meal-skipping family member, person setting up breakfast and dietary habit were significant variables(p<0.05). In physical influences according to skipping breakfast, students would skip breakfast had more stomach or dizziness(p<0.05). Depression score were higher and school life score were lower in group skipping breakfast, but not statistically significant. Conclusions: In conclusion, in order to reduce the rate of elementary students who often go without breakfast, it is favorable that they should be instructed in the importance of breakfast and the harm of skipped meal, so that they can cultivate positive living habits and dietary attitudes as well. And it is necessary that this health education cover not only students but also all of their family members(especially mother). Furthermore, it is necessary to develop systematic programs for them to get over environment factors.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.69 no.2
• /
• pp.117-141
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences of the factors affecting the entry of depression by generations and to present a practical strategy for preventing of depression by life-cycle. For this purpose, we analyzed the factors influencing the depression of adults, middle-aged and elderly people through the discrete-time hazard model. The results of this study are as follows: First, the lower the self-esteem, the lower the income satisfaction and the family satisfaction people have, the higher the likelihood of entering the depression they have. In addition, age, educational level, health status, presence of chronic diseases, employment status, regional area, and leisure life satisfaction were variables that showed difference by generation. In the case of adulthood(aged 20 ~ 39), unemployed persons are more likely to enter the depression than younger workers. On the other hand, the middle-aged(40 ~ 64 year olds) are more likely to enter the depression if they are older, have poor health status, have no chronic disease, and have low leisure satisfaction. Finally, older people(aged 65 and over) are more likely to enter the depression when the education level is higher, the health condition is worse, and the leisure satisfaction is lower. If they lived in an urban and rural complex, they are more likely to enter the depression. Based on these results, it is necessary to establish a support plan reflecting the characteristics revealed by generations in order to prevent the entry of depression.

• Water for future
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.38-42
• /
• 1976

Because of differences in thoughts and ideology, our country, Korea has been deprived of national unity for some thirty years of time and tide. To achieve peaceful unification, the cultivation of national strength is of paramount importance. This national strength is also essential if Korea is to take rightful place in the international societies and to have the confidence of these societies. However, national strength can never be achieved in a short time. The fundamental elements in economic development that are directly conducive to the cultivation of national strength can be said to lie in -a stable political system, -exertion of powerful leadership, -cultivation of a spirit of diligence, self-help and cooperation, -modernization of human brain power, and -establishment of a scientific and well planned economic policy and strong enforcement of this policy. Our country, Korea, has attained brilliant economic development in the past 15 years under the strong leadership of president Park Chung Hee. However, there are still many problems to be solved. A few of them are: -housing and home problems, -increasing demand for employment, -increasing demand for staple food and -the need to improve international balance of payment. Solution of the above mentioned problems requires step by step scientific development of each sector and region of our contry. As a spearhead project in regional development, the Saemaul Campaign or new village movement can be cited. The campaign is now spreading throughout the country like a grass fire. However, such campaigns need considerable encouragement and support and the means for the desired development must be provided if the regional and sectoral development program is to sucdceed. The construction of large multipurpose dams in major river basin plays significant role in all aspects of national, regional and sectoral development. It ensures that the water resource, for which there is no substitute, is retained and utilized for irrigation of agricultural areas, production of power for industry, provision of water for domestic and industrial uses and control of river water. Water is the very essence of life and we must conserve and utilize what we have for the betterment of our peoples and their heir. The regional and social impact of construction of a large dam is enormous. It is intended to, and does, dras tically improve the "without-project" socio-economic conditions. A good example of this is the Soyanggang multipurpose dam. This project will significantly contribute to our national strength by utilizing the stored water for the benefit of human life and relief of flood and drought damages. Annual average precipitation in Korea is 1160mm, a comparatively abundant amount. The catchment areas of the Han River, Keum River, and Youngsan River are $62,755\textrm{km}^2$, accounting for 64% of the national total. Approximately 62% of the national population inhabits in this area, and 67% of the national gross product comes from the area. The annual population growth rate of the country is currently estimated at 1.7%, and every year the population growth in urban area increases at a rising rate. The population of Seoul, Pusan, and Taegu, the three major cities in Korea, is equal to one third of our national total. According to the census conducted on October 1, 1975, the population in the urban areas has increased by 384,000, whereas that in rural areas has decreased by 59,000,000 in the past five years. The composition of population between urban and rural areas varied from 41%~59% in 1959 to 48%~52% in 1975. To mitigate this treand towards concentration of population in urban areas, employment opportunities must be provided in regional and rural areas. However, heavy and chemical industries, which mitigate production and employment problems at the same time, must have abundant water and energy. Also increase in staple food production cannot be attained without water. At this point in time, when water demand is rapidly growing, it is essential for the country to provide as much a reservoir capacity as possible to capture the monsoon rainfall, which concentarated in the rainy seaon from June to Septesmber, and conserve the water for year round use. The floods, which at one time we called "the devil" have now become a source of immense benefit to Korea. Let me explain the topographic condition in Korea. In northern and eastern areas we have high mountains and rugged country. Our rivers originate in these mountains and flow in a general southerly or westerly direction throught ancient plains. These plains were formed by progressive deposition of sediments from the mountains and provide our country with large areas of fertile land, emminently suited to settlement and irrigated agricultural development. It is, therefore, quite natural that these areas should become the polar point for our regional development program. Hower, we are fortunate in that we have an additional area or areas, which can be used for agricultural production and settlement of our peoples, particularly those peoples who may be displaced by the formation of our reservoirs. I am speaking of the tidelands along the western and southern coasts. The other day the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery informed the public of a tideland reclamation of which 400,000 hectares will be used for growing rice as part of our national food self-sufficiency programme. Now, again, we arrive at the need for water, as without it we cannot realize this ambitious programme. And again we need those dams to provide it. As I mentioned before, dams not only provide us with essential water for agriculture, domestic and industrial use, but provide us with electrical energy, as it is generally extremely economical to use the water being release for the former purposes to drive turbines and generators. At the present time we have 13 hydro-electric power plants with an installed capacity of 711,000 kilowatts equal to 16% of our national total. There are about 110 potential dams ites in the country, which could yield about 2,300,000 kilowatts of hydro-electric power. There are about 54 sites suitable for pumped storage which could produce a further 38,600,000 kilowatts of power. All available if we carefully develop our water resources. To summarize, water resource development is essential to the regional development program and the welfare of our people, it must proceed hand-in-hand with other aspects of regional development such as land impovement, high way extension, development of our forests, erosion control, and develop ment of heavy and chemical industries. Through the successful implementation of such an integrated regional development program, we can look forward to a period of national strength, and due recognition of our country by the worlds societies.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.60-79
• /
• 2012

Environment of ancient Chinese Buddhist temple can be classified to three types such as regional society(鄕村), famous mountain(名山), and urban areas(都市). This made differences in environment where a temple existed and in turn, affected development of Buddhism. And this made another type in relationship between Buddhist temple and a society. This study explains influences which regional society gave on not only Buddhist temple and a monk but also existence and development of Buddhism. When temples are placed in different environmental position, that is, urban areas and regional society, among a social structure, they eventually should adapt to a different society externally and internally. As told in above, ancient Chinese Buddhist temple was located in regional society, famous mountain, and urban areas. Since Eastern Jin and Sixteen Kingdoms, as number of temple much increased, and temples and monks were concentrated on famous mountain, temples in famous mountains and urban areas had developed showing similar aspects each other. But because temples in regional society were influenced a little differently, this study focused on the point. There are four kinds of influences between temples and monks in regional areas. Monks in regional areas had a comparatively close relationship with a society because they came from same area or surrounding areas. Therefore,powers of regional areas restrict influences made by monk group in temple. Second, temples in regional areas shared their joys and sorrows depending on regional economy. Temples in regional areas became a public place for the society and often a market place. In fact, construction and existence of a temple originally became a driving force in regional economy. This is because construction of temple needs artisans and materials and some temples had visitors and included market economy like consumption of incense and candles, though the economic size was large or small. And when regional areas experienced natural disaster or man-made disaster or had poor harvest or economy was in depression, monks left temples and then, temples themselves could not exist. Third, the relationship between temples in regional areas and Buddhists was distinguished from the temples in urban areas and famous mountains. This is because temples in China were places where monks practiced and at the same time, places where general Buddhists worshipped. So there were always a number of Buddhists around the temples. Forth, Buddhism in resional areas was connected to regional Folk beliefs. As a result, Buddhism was spread across the nation, worship with local color often was changed to Buddhist belief or was tinged with Buddhism. While temples in regional areas maintained a close relationship with regional society.they were influenced by the region or gave influences. As a representative example, temples in regional areas showed model behaviors instead of roles of facilities related to various cultures with comparatively advanced level - for example, school, hospital etc. The temples highly affected funerary rites in regional areas. Chinese tombs were mainlymade in regional areas. After death,people living in urban areas were buried in hometown or at least, they were buried in suburbs not urban areas. Temples in regional areas generally participated in funerary rites. Above shows that though most of famous Buddhist temples were located in urban areas not in famous mountains,majority of temples were located in vast regional areas. Through mutual interaction between temples and regional society, the temples in the regional areas were related to Chinese people of over 90% and regional areas became the most important foundation for Buddhism in China. Mutual influences between temples in regional areas and the general public in regions were omnidirectional and spreaded to every aspects of social life in small or large degree. Thus Tombs in temple were widely spreaded across regional areas over time and space. This is enough to explain a close relationship between Buddhist temples and rural society in ancient China.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.551-567
• /
• 2018

Demographic and socio-structural information is useful to identify potential welfare recipients who are in need of disease-prevention and intervention services. Thus, the present study aims to explore the differences in grip strength among middle and old-aged adults by living conditions and by living area. The 5th wave data of Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging was utilized. The dependent variable was grip strength, and the independent variables were living alone (living alone or not) and living area (city or non-city). Covariates were age, education, log-transformed household income, spouse existence, body mass index, self-rated health conditions, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, smoking, regular exercise, frequency of meeting with friends, and the number of social participation. Regression analysis was performed for middle-aged men, middle-aged women, old-aged men, and old-aged women, respectively. ANOVA and Chi-test were additionally used to specifically discuss significant results. Cross-sectional weight was applied to all analyses. According to the results, living alone and living area did not have significant effects on grip strength among middle-aged men, old-aged men, and old-aged women. In middle-aged women, however, living alone and living area were significantly associated with grip strength. To be specific, middle-aged women who lived alone in rural areas had the lowest grip strength compared to other middle-aged women. Additional analysis showed that middle-aged women who lived alone in rural areas had risk factors, such as low education level, low income, or high depressive symptoms. It implies that middle-aged women living alone in rural areas may have physical health risks, so they might be in need of disease prevention. This study is meaningful in that it can provide reliable information on the latent welfare recipients by using representative panel data and applying weight values.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.13
• /
• pp.5349-5357
• /
• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality among women of all ethnic and age groups in Malaysia. Delay in seeking help for breast cancer symptoms is preventable and by identifying possible factors for delayed diagnosis, patient prognosis and survival rates could be improved. Objectives: This narrative review aimed to understand and evaluate the level of in-depth breast cancer knowledge in terms of clinical breast examination and breast self-examination, and other important aspects such as side-effects and risk factors in Malaysian females. Since Malaysia is multicultural, this review assessed social perceptions, cultural beliefs and help-seeking behaviour in respect to breast cancer among different ethnic groups, since these may impinge on efforts to 'avoid' the disease. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search of seven databases was performed from December 2015 to January 2015. Screening of relevant published journals was also undertaken to identify available information related to the knowledge, perception and help-seeking behaviour of Malaysian women in relation to breast cancer. Results: A total of 42 articles were appraised and included in this review. Generally, women in Malaysia had good awareness of breast cancer and its screening tools, particularly breast self-examination, but only superficial in-depth knowledge about the disease. Women in rural areas had lower levels of knowledge than those in urban areas. It was also shown that books, magazines, brochures and television were among the most common sources of breast cancer information. Delay in presentation was attributed mainly to a negative social perception of the disease, poverty, cultural and religion practices, and a strong influence of complementary and alternative medicine, rather than a lack of knowledge. Conclusions: This review highlighted the need for an intensive and in-depth breast cancer education campaigns using media and community health programmes, even with the existing good awareness of breast cancer. This is essential in order to avoid misconceptions and to frame the correct mind-set about breast cancer among women in Malaysia. Socio-cultural differences and religious practices should be taken into account by health care professionals when advising on breast cancer. Women need to be aware of the risk factors and symptoms of breast cancer so that early diagnosis can take place and the chances of survival improved.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 1986

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the Marital Satisfaction Scale(M.S.S) is properly applicable to Korean couples and further to be devoted to the designed of a marital satisfaction scale for Korea. The scale employed in this study was a Korean adaptation of the M.S.S., which originally included 73 items but was reduced to 48 through a study of its validity by Bowden. This scale was administered to 420 couples. One kindergarten, two elementary schools, one middle school, and four high schools, all of them located in Seoul or its satellite cities were selected for the present study. The results of the study were as follows. 1) Through item analysis, 85.4% of the total items showed a high index of discrimination, i.e, of more than +.40, which all was significant discrimination (P<0.001) excluding two items. 2)Factor analysis, which was oriented toward combining factors proper to theory, showed that the M.S.S. consisted of 6 factors and its total variance was 50.18%. The 6 factors were marital satisfaction (factor 1), marital social psychological companionship (factor 2), obstacles to marriage (factor 3), dissatisfaction of marital relationship (factor 4), attitude of the reasonable marital relationship (factor 5), and cognition of married life (factor 6), 3) internal consistency reliability of the M.S.S. was 0.951 and the reliability of the total items after excluding two through item analysis 0.956 and 0.949 respectively, which showed a high internal consistency 4) The marital satisfaction examined by the M.S.S showed significant differences according to sex, education , income, the duration of marriage, the number of children but no significant differences according to age, and family type. From these results, it will be concluded that the M.S.S is a reliable and valid psychological scale for examining marital satisfaction of Korean couples. The limitations of this study were as follows. 1) It can not be generalized to all Korean couples because the subjects was sampled from Seoul or satellite cities. 2)The factor analysis in this study was oriented toward combining factors proper to theory. However, it was very difficult to find out the factors because the components of the M.S.S. was more or less abstract. Thus, from these results some suggestions follow for developing the marital satisfaction scale proper to Korean couples systematically and scientifically. 1) The subjects must be sampled form urban as well as rural areas 2)Factor analysis in this study is oriented toward finding out factors of the M.S.S. Thus, it is needed to analyze the factor validity or construct validity by multitrait - multimethod of the scale with more theoretical conceptualization. 3) It is necessary to examine whether marital satisfaction shows difference according to couples and psychological variables besides objective demographic variables. 4) More research is needed before the M.S.S. con be adapted into a turely useful marital satisfaction scale for Korea.