• 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.