• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.417-431
• /
• 2007

This study investigates the differences among residental areas in the health, standard of living, and social relationships of female elderly living alone. The total of 501 subjects(185 from rural areas, 159 from fishing communities, 77 from the islands, and 80 from urban areas) were questioned from May to July, 2006. The research area was confined to Chungcheong Province. The female elderly living alone of this study were an average of seventy-three years old, had a low cost of living, and received little formal school education. Over sixty percent(60.3) of them lived on less than thirty dollars a month which was the recognized Korean poverty level in 2006. The female elderly living alone were evaluated as being in good health, but they themselves perceived their health as being poor. Observed by residential areas, the subjects in urban areas were lower in ADL, and both the urban dwellers and the islanders appeared to be higher in their satisfaction with medical services as compared to those in rural areas and fishing communities. The fishing villagers showed the lowest standard of living for female elderly living alone. The analysis of social relationships as seen in the different residental areas revealed that the female elderly living alone g in urban areas tended to be receiving social supports rather than providing for others, and subjects living in fishing areas and the islands proved to be relatively higher in the exchange of social supports. In relation to offspring, the female elderly living alone in urban areas had a lower frequency of meeting with their children and also a lesser degree of intimacy with them because they lived at a distance. On the other hand, subjects living in rural areas and fishing communities had a higher frequency of meeting with their children and a greater degree of intimacy with them even if they lived at a distance. The study also showed that the female elderly living alone in the islands had a higher frequency of once meeting per three week with their offspring and a higher degree of intimacy with them because they all live in the same islands. In conclusion, the subject living in urban areas appeared to be isolated from their offspring as compared to the other seniors in the study. The female elderly living alone in urban areas suffered from an insufficient network of relatives and neighbors, and they experienced a poor quality of relationships to their offspring. Almost all of the lone seniors in the study had a low score in social activities; however, the female elderly living alone in urban areas revealed a higher level of participation in volunteer activities, group activities, and educational activities. Nevertheless, the lone seniors living in urban areas were not satisfied with their participation in social activities. The subjects living in rural in fishing communities and the islands showed more participation in money-making activities. This study suggests that the policies for female elderly living alone should reflect the differences of regional characteristics.

• 한국초등상담교육학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2004.01a
• /
• pp.205-222
• /
• 2004

Fundamental direction of the seventh education curriculum aims to nurture active and creative Koreans for globalized and information-oriented society of 21 century, and emphasizes the importance of career education identifying its subsections that are practices of student-focused education of aptitude, ability and career. Hence, as a clear targeting of career objective from elementary school through relevant career education enables them to recognize appropriate career for themselves, the basis of self- actualization and social contribution must be settled. This paper seeks to identify the relationship between career awareness and self-esteem by examining and analysing differences of sex, region and level. This study selected 536 samples from 4th and 6th year elementary school students in C city and S town of Chungcheong province. Career awareness test and self-esteem test is used as a measurement, statistical process control (SPC) of career awareness and self-esteem (M, SD, r) is made for each variable, and the significance was tested. The result of this research can be summarized as follows: First, generally there is very significant regional differences of career awareness (F=16.817, p<.001), which contains that urban children has higher career awareness (M=120.22) than that of rural children (M=113.87). In subsections of career awareness, self-esteem of urban children is higher than that of rural children, and the attitude & for career and values of girls is higher than that of boys. In terms of the career planning, urban children and 6th year students are higher than rural children and 4th year students. Second, self-esteem generally has very significant regional difference (F=12.123, p<.01), which contains that the self-esteem of urban children (M=106.50) is higher than that of rural children (M=101.80). In comparison of different forms, a very significant difference is as much as p<.01 level (F=11.046), which contains 4th year students (M=105.63) have higher self-esteem than 6th year students (M=102.05). In subsections of self-esteem, gross self-esteem and social self-esteem of urban children are higher than rural children. In terms of family self-esteem, urban children and 4th year students have higher figure than rural children and 6th year students. In school self-esteem, 4th year students had higher level than the 6th. Third, the career awareness and self-esteem are generally related as r= .50, it was very significant at p<. 001 level. All subsections of career awareness had positive relationships except the school self-esteem. According to the result, rural children had relatively low career awareness and self-esteem. This is presumably due to relatively poor circumstances for rural children, comparing to that of urban children. Therefore rural elementary schools should try to let them have appropriate career awareness by associating with family, school and local society to expand the opportunity of experiences for the self perception of aptitude, nature and interest. In addition, we have to strive for the whole-minded education increasing the self-esteem of rural children and giving them positive thinking through career counselling, personal counselling and group counselling.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.215-227
• /
• 1998

To find health problems of Pohang city and to plan the activities to solve them in the situation of localization, the mortalities of the citizens in recent three years from 1994 to 1996 were analyzed from the notices and the certificates of death. The ratios of the notices with the certificates of death In the rural area of Pohang city were higher than those of whole country, the ratios of the urban area were lower than the respective ones, and the ratio differences between the rural and urban area were increasing. It may be that medical facilities are not within easy access of the rural inhabitants. especially in the rural south district with high population density. The proportional mortality indicators(PMI) were lower them those of whole country, much lower in male. So the health status of young aged males is relatively unsatisfactory. The urban inhabitants died in hospitals about two times more than the rural inhabitants and the differences were increasing. It may be that living and housing conditions and socio-cultural differences affected on the places of death. Because it is thought that death in hospitals will be growing at high speed, it is necessary to enlarge facilities fur funeral services. The age standardized mortalities were lower than those of whole country and age grouped mortalities were also the same. There were not any consistent and meaningful findings in the sex ratios of mortality according to the age groups or the calendar years. The mortalities by neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases according to the twenty one major causes of death were rapidly increased from the middle ages in both male and female. So it is important to plan the activities for early detection and health maintenance or promotion by behavior modifications. The leading causes of death were cardiovascular diseases, hypertensive diseases, and traffic accidents. And accidental drowning because of coastal area, liver diseases in male, and low respiratory tract diseases in female were the leading causes of death in part of age groups.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.260-269
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in health status and the utilization of long-term care service between urban and rural aged residents in Korea. Methods: Through convenience sampling, 1,405 elders (829 from urban areas and 576 from rural areas) were selected during March 1 to May 31 in 2004. All the subjects agreed to participate and filled out the survey questionnaire after signing the consent form. The instruments utilized in this study were the impairment of physio-sensory function, ADL IADL, cognitive function, and psycho-social function scale. This instrument was developed by modifying the scab developed by Gurland & Wilder (1984). Data was analyzed using the SPSS Win program. Results: There were significant differences in economic status, duration of living and type of medical insurance between rural and urban elderly(p<.05). Physio-sensory functions (t=4.53. p<.001), ADL (t=3.61. p<.001), IADL (t=2.45, p=.014), cognitive functions (t=-2.63. p=.024) and psycho-social functions (t=3.69. p<.001) were significantly different between the two groups. The utilization of long-term care facility in the urban elderly was significantly higher than that in the rural elderly ($x^2=10.14$, p<.001). Conclusion: Considering these findings. the need for long-term care should be assessed by residence characteristics. Because of different utilization of long term care facility according to the elderly's needs, long-term care services should be considered the residence characteristics.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.111-124
• /
• 2020

This study begins with an interest in community capacity, the basis for mobilizing community action and the driving force of community development. The study aims to identify the structural equation model of community capacity, social participation, satisfaction in life, and the impact relationship and to verify the differences between urban and rural areas. The analysis data used the 2018Korean Social Integration Survey, which is the statistical data for national approval. The analysis method was performed by using SPSS was used to perform descriptive analysis and t-test, and the structural equation model. Multi-group analysis of AMOS was also performed to verify the research model. As the result of analysis, both the condition and status of community capacity and social participation, which are products of community capacity, showed a higher average of rural areas than urban areas. As a result of the analysis of the structural equation model between community capacity, social participation, and life satisfaction, differences between rural and urban groups were identified. In rural areas, both the capacity-condition and the capacity-status variables act as positive factors for social participation and life satisfaction, but in urban areas, the path of capacity-condition, social participation, capacity-status and life satisfaction was significant. On the other hand, social participation variables acted as a factor of direct and indirect negatively influence on life satisfaction. Therefore, it can be said that the quality of community capacity in rural areas is superior to that of urban areas.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.633-641
• /
• 2017

This study explores how the digital divide caused by personal SES(Socio-Economic Status) eventually affect personal life satisfaction. The study also investigates the differences between living in urban and rural areas, as well as the differences among generations, with respect to the digital divide and personal life satisfaction. Based on the Korean Media Panel data produced by KISDI, this study used 9,647 national samples to obtain variables such as digital divide, and life satisfaction. Results show that personal SES is a key factor that significantly influences digital divide and life satisfaction in various degrees. Also, the study finds that the degree of the digital divide have an effect on people's life satisfaction. The findings imply that people living in urban areas are more highly used to digital media than those in rural areas regardless of their SES. The study has an implication, in terms of digital equity among generations as well as urban and rural residents.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.29 no.2 s.53
• /
• pp.311-329
• /
• 1996

This study was designed to compare the level of medical utilization between the urban and rural areas of Korea and to explain the differences between the two regions. Data from the National Health Interview Survey performed by the Korean Institute of Health & Social Affairs in 1992 were used for this study utilizing a sample size of 21,841 people. The level of medical utilization such as the number of physician visits and the number of hospital admissions was compared between the regions with ANOVA. Various determinants for medical use were also compared by univariate analysis. Statistical models which included enabling factors, predisposing factors, need factors and region were constructed for bivariate analysis in order to further elucidate the level of medical utilization. The results were as follows: 1. There was greater medical use, both in terms of physician visits and inpatient care in the rural areas in spite of insufficient health resources. The particular reasons for higher medical utilization in rural areas were attributed to a higher number of initial physician visits as well as a longer the length of stay per hospital admission. Therefore, indicators representing the degree of met need (utilization/need) showed no significant difference between rural and urban areas in spite of the fact that the medical need is larger in rural areas. 2. Use of public health facilities received a significant portion of physician visits in the rural area. The government's effort to enhance primary health care through health centers, health subcenters and the nurse practitioner's post in rural areas has contributed to the increase of access to medical care in the rural areas. 3. There were some differences in the socio-demographic characteristics between two regions ; There were more elderly people over the age of 65: unstable marital status, less education and lower incomes also characterized the rural areas. Therefore, among rural people, there were more predisposing factors for medical use. Additionaly, need factors such as poor self-reported health status and high morbidity level were also high in the rural area. 4. In contrast it was learned that, the supply of health resources was mostly concentrated in the urban areas except for public health facilities. Therefore, geographical access to medical care was lower in the rural area both in terms travel time and travel cost. 5. The coefficient of the region variable was insignificant in the regression model which controlled the supply factor only. However, utilization was significantly higher in urban areas if the model included predisposing factors and need factors in addition to the supply factor. The results were interpreted as rural people have greater medical needs.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.130-135
• /
• 2002

The purposes of this study were to quantify and compare the kind and amount of solid waste generated in two school foodservice operations located in urban and rural areas. A waste stream analysis was conducted to quantify and characterize the kind of waste in the production and service parts of each operation. The SPSS 10.0 for window was used for data analysis. Non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney) was adopted to determine if significant differences exist in amounts of waste generated in the urban school and the rural school. An average of 415 meals, including 43 adult meals, were served daily in the urban school, while an average of 177 meals, including 24 adult meals, were served daily in the rural school. Food waste generated in the production part in the urban school composed approximately 87% and 45%, while that in the rural school composed 71% and 28% by weight and volume, respectively. Waste per meal was not significantly different between the urban school and the rural school in the production part except the cardboard waste. The total waste per meal at lunch was 154g or 465m1 in the urban school and 51g or 334m1 in the rural school. Students in the urban school discarded significantly more food waste and milk than students in the rural school did. The research results suggest that school foodservice dietitians should evaluate the acceptability of menu items based on food waste per meal, and assess the feasibility of implementing a plan for recycling packaging waste and composting organic waste.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.667-677
• /
• 2020

This study aims to investigate the effects of social connectedness on depressive symptom focusing on the comparison between the rural and urban elderly. Data from 'Korean Social Life, Health and Aging Project: KSHAP' was used for analyzing. The analysis included 948 rural elderly and 982 urban elderly. The results showed that urban elderly's depressive symptom level was higher than rural elderly's. Depending on the subcomponent of social connectedness, there were differences in the influence on the urban and rural elderly's depressive symptom. It has been confirmed that only loneliness has affected urban elderly people, and that appraisal social support and loneliness have affected rural elderly people, and that belongingness social support has not been significant in both groups. Findings from this research have some implications for intervention endeavors in reducing depressive symptom of older people.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.131-141
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to identify the determinants of physical frailty among the old-old adults in rural Korean communities. A total of 191 individuals aged 75 and older were included in the study, with the majority being female. Participants were classified into healthy (n=47), pre-frail (n=54), and frail (n=90) groups. Significant differences were found across these groups in terms of age, gender, education level, depression, and nutritional status. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR=1.16), depression (OR=0.21), malnourishment (OR=10.85), and short physical performance ability (OR=0.70) were significant predictors of physical frailty. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of physical frailty among old-old adults in urban-rural complex communities and highlight the need for comprehensive and integrated interventions. Such interventions should consider not only physical factors but also broader health conditions and socio-demographic influences impacting the elderly. Further research is needed to develop and evaluate interventions that address these determinants and promote health equity among the elderly population in urban-rural complex communities