The Level of Successful Aging and Influencing Factors of the Community Elderly

BACKGROUND@#The purpose of this study was to understand the level of successful aging and to analyze the factors that affect successful aging.@*METHODS@#This study was a descriptive study. The data collection of this study using questionnaires was from October 1, 2017 to December 30, 2017, and the 169 elderly people living in Chungcheongnam-do were surveyed.@*RESULTS@#The mean level of successful aging of the subjects was 3.57 (±0.58), which was higher than the median, it was significantly different among the presence of religion, participation in senior facility, regular exercise, pain, and subjective health status. Regression analysis showed that the factors that have the greatest influence on the successful aging of the subjects were the participation in senior facility (β=0.24, P<0.001), self-esteem support (β=0.20, P=0.024), emotional support (β=0.19, P=0.048), regular exercise (β=0.19, P=0.002), and pain (β=−0.14. P=0.029). The explanatory power of these variables on successful aging was 53% (F=20.37, P<0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study showed that emotional support and support for self-esteem were important in successful aging, and that pain, which was not considered in previous studies, was an important factor.

The Level of Successful Aging and Influencing Factors of the Community Elderly

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to understand the level of successful aging and to analyze the factors that affect successful aging. METHODS: This study was a descriptive study. The data collection of this study using questionnaires was from October 1, 2017 to December 30, 2017, and the 169 elderly people living in Chungcheongnam-do were surveyed. RESULTS: The mean level of successful aging of the subjects was 3.57 (±0.58), which was higher than the median, it was significantly different among the presence of religion, participation in senior facility, regular exercise, pain, and subjective health status. Regression analysis showed that the factors that have the greatest influence on the successful aging of the subjects were the participation in senior facility (β=0.24, P<0.001), self-esteem support (β=0.20, P=0.024), emotional support (β=0.19, P=0.048), regular exercise (β=0.19, P=0.002), and pain (β=−0.14. P=0.029). The explanatory power of these variables on successful aging was 53% (F=20.37, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that emotional support and support for self-esteem were important in successful aging, and that pain, which was not considered in previous studies, was an important factor.

Factors Affecting Family Caregivers' Burden and Depression in Home-based Long-Term Care Service under the Long-Term Care Insurance System

PURPOSE: This study tried to identify changes in family burden after the introduction of the long-term care insurance and to examine the factors influencing subjective and objective caring burden and depression of family caregivers of elders receiving home-based long-term care. METHODS: Data were collected from 203 family caregivers of elders from August 1 to 31, 2015 using questionnaires. They were analyzed in descriptive statistics, t test, ANOVA test, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean score of depression was 7.24, which suggested mild depression level. The subjective family burden was 2.71 and the objective burden 3.04. The factors affecting depression included subjective burden (t=5.08, p < .001), objective burden (t=2.80, p=.006), time of elderly care per day (t=−3.61, p < .001), caregiving duration (t=3.33, p=.001), age (t=3.13, p=.002), family relationship (t=2.48, p=.014), and economic status (t=1.99, p=.047). CONCLUSION: The family burden was most important influencing factor on caregiver's depression. Therefore, services and supports to alleviate caregivers' burden in the home-based care should be added to long-term care.

The Death Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms among Poor Older Women in Rural Areas: The Moderating Effect of Social Support

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the moderate effect of social support on the relationship between death anxiety and depressive symptoms among poor older women in rural areas. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of the data from 209 women who were participated in the intervention study to evaluate the effectiveness of depression prevention program. Data were collected between April and September 2012. The data were analyzed using moderate multiple regressions. RESULTS: Among these poor older women, depressive symptoms were associated with death anxiety and social support. Self-esteem support had a moderating effect on the relationship between death anxiety and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the self-esteem support was effective in decreasing depressive symptoms and death anxiety in poor older women. In order to reduce their depression and make positive changes in their lives, self-esteem improvement programs are needed.

Prevalence and Related Factors of Clonorchiasis among Five Major Riverside Residents in South Korea

PURPOSE: This study attempted to investigate the prevalence and related factors of Clonorchiasis among five major riverside residents in South Korea. METHODS: This study is descriptive research, nationwide survey, and the subjects are 23,492 residents selected by convenience sampling. Data collection was conducted between March 1 and June 30, 2011, and stool collection and questionnaire survey were conducted by affiliated public health centers in 38 cities and Gun's. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of Clonorchiasis in the five major riversides were as follows: the Guem River 15.2%; the Nakdong River 11.9%; the Seomjin River 10.9%; the Han River 5.7%; and the Yeongsan River 3.9%. The prevalence rates were shown to be significantly high among people who had highly frequent experiences of eating and cooking freshwater raw fish, were diagnosed with liver and/or biliary tract diseases, and drank less than once a month. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that it is necessary to improve awareness of Clonorchiasis and provide intensive public health education for the riverside residents. And the target groups should be set up by reflecting the characteristics of at-risk groups, and it is necessary to prepare customized strategies for prevention and management of Clonorchiasis.

Structural Equation Modeling to Assess Discrimination, Stress, Social Support, and Depression among the Elderly Women in South Korea

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to find the relationship and conceptual model of discrimination, stress, support, and depression among the elderly in South Korea. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study involving 207 community-dwelling elders. Data were collected through questionnaires from May 5 to May 31, 2014 in community senior centers, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t test, analysis of variance, Scheffè test, and structural equation modeling. RESULTS: There were significant effects of discrimination on stress, support on stress and stress on depression. Moreover, there were two significant indirect effects observed between discrimination and depression, and between support and depression. For each indirect effect, the mediating factor was stress. Additionally, there was no direct effect between discrimination and depression or support. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that social support and discrimination had indirect effects on depression through stress. More specifically, decreased stress led to a reduction of depression. Therefore, social support based on a thorough understanding of stress is very important for caring elderly who are depressive.

Life Stress and Coping Style for Stress of Vietnamese Married Immigrant Women

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to survey female Vietnamese marriage immigrants' life stress and to analyze factors influencing their life stress and coping strategies. METHODS: As descriptive correlation research, this study conducted a survey with 182 conveniently sampled subjects. Data were collected in June, 2015, and analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The subjects' life stress levels were above average, and significantly varied according to their health, and economic status. Stress coping strategies used by the subjects included assistance seeking, problem avoidance, wishful thinking, problem solving, and emotional alleviation in the order of frequency. As a result of the stepwise multiple regression, economic level, economic activity, and health status were found to be the most significant factors influencing the subjects' life stress, and these variables explained 45.1% of the variation in life stress. CONCLUSION: Female marriage immigrants were experiencing above-average life stress, and they were coping with it mainly in terms of assistance seeking or problem avoidance. In order to mitigate their stress, therefore, it is necessary to provide extended employment opportunities and economic activities for them so that they can cultivate their abilities in health management.

Factors Influencing Middle-aged Women's Depression

BACKGROUND: According to the 2013 statistics, The prevalence rate of depression of women was twice compare to man. Especially, about 53% of depression patients were women over age 40. So this study was conducted to analyze whether women's depression is influenced by their socio-demographic characteristics, life stress, and social support. METHODS: This study was a descriptive survey, and data were collected during the period from the 1st to 31st of August in 2015, using a self-reporting questionnaire from 196 women aged between 40 and 60 who were sampled from an urban area through convenient sampling. RESULTS: First, among the sub-factors of life stress, health-related & role conflict stress were highest. And life stress was higher when social support was low. Second, social support was higher when exercise was done regularly. Lastly, the results of structural equation modeling analysis showed that life stress and social support had a significant effect on depression. Life stress had a significant direct effect on social support, and social support had a significant direct effect on depression. Life stress had an indirect effect on depression through the medium of social support, and their explanatory power was R2=0.68 and R2=0.64, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that depression was in a very close relationship with life stress and social support. This finding suggests that future health policies for managing middle-aged women's depression should focus on reducing life stress and reinforcing their social support.

The Effects of a Positive Psychology Improvement Program on Elders' Depression and Death Anxiety

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a positive psychology improvement program on elders' depression and death anxiety. METHODS: This was conducted as a quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were community elders aged over 65 recruited by convenient sampling. A total of 94 elders (32 in the individual experimental group, 32 in the collective experimental group, and 30 in the control group) participated. Data were collected between April and September, 2012 and analyzed by using SPSS/WIN 21. RESULTS: The individual and group approach experimental groups had significantly lower scores of depression than the control group after the treatment (F=7.50, p=.001). For death anxiety, however, only the individual experimental group had a significantly lower score compared to the control group (F=4.56, p=.013). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the positive psychology improvement program was effective in decreasing depression and death anxiety in the elderly. Therefore, the program needs to be applied in a customized way fittingly to the characteristics of the elderly in community, and individually and/or collectively according to its purposes.

Analyzing Factors Influencing the Quality of Life in Vietnamese Married Immigrant Women in Korea

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze factors influencing the quality of life in Vietnamese married immigrant women in Korea. The factors included socio-demographic characteristics, spouse's support, and social support of Vietnamese married immigrant women. METHODS: A descriptive survey was conducted to collect data from 190 subjects during the period between May and June, 2015. The randomly sampled subjects answered a self-report questionnaire translated into Vietnamese. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 21. RESULTS: The subjects' quality of life was found to be influenced by economic level, subjective perception of their own and spouse's health, Korean communication ability, spouse's support, and social support. The most influential factor for the quality of life was spouse's support, and next, subjective perception of their own health, Korean communication ability, and economic level in order of influence. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that social support programs should be customized to the subjects' characteristics in order for married immigrant women to adjust themselves to new Korean environments and to lead a high-qualitylife through the promotion of marital relationship, Korean communication ability, health status, and economic capability.

The Effects of Oral Health on Activity of Daily Living, Depression and Quality of Life in Elderly Women

BACKGROUND: Although oral health in the elderly significantly affects their physical health and quality of life, there have only been limited studies on the relationship between oral health and quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between oral health, ADL, depression and quality of life in the elderly in Korea, and to provide data to assist the development of health promotion programs in this population. METHODS: Study subjects included 201 community dwelling elders recruited during December 1 to 31, 2013. Data collected included socio-demographics, oral health (OHIP-14), activity of daily living (ADL), depression status (GDS-SF) and quality of life (QOL). For data analysis, ANOVA test, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were performed using the SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. RESULTS: Average score of OHIP was 0.71, depression was 6.34 and QOL was 2.12. There were significant differences in OHIP according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018) and disease staus (F=3.08, P=0.048). Also there were statistically significant differences in the depression status according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001) and economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018), and in QOL according to education (F=7.01, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.87, P=0.009) and disease (F=11.04, P<0.001). ADL influenced OHIP and depression, OHIP influenced depression and depression influenced QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health in the elderly should be considered in developing health programs for quality of life.

A Study on Fecal Incontinence and Depression of Rural Women

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to identify the prevalence and influencing factors of fecal incontinence, and to analyze the association between fecal incontinence and depression. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 233 women living in rural areas, and data were collected using questionnaires from February 24 to May 30, 2012. Fecal incontinence was measured with the Continence Grading Score, and depression with the Geriatric Depression Scale. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS through chi2-test, Fisher's exact test, t-test and ANOVA. RESULTS: Of the subjects, 16.7% had fecal incontinence. The prevalence of fecal incontinence was higher in older women (chi2=23.55, p<.001), those with vaginal delivery (chi2=4.81, p=.049), those with parity of 4 or more (chi2=13.47, p=.003), and those with urinary incontinence (chi2=26.36, p<.001). The level of depression was significantly higher in older women (F=19.27, p<.001), those with low academic qualification (F=18.17, p<.001), those with urinary incontinence (F=4.15, p=.043), and those with fecal incontinence (F=14.90, p<.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that there should be supports by public health care for fecal incontinence prevention and care programs in order to promote the physical and emotional health of rural women.

The Effects of Oral Health on Activity of Daily Living, Depression and Quality of Life in Elderly Women

BACKGROUND: Although oral health in the elderly significantly affects their physical health and quality of life, there have only been limited studies on the relationship between oral health and quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between oral health, ADL, depression and quality of life in the elderly in Korea, and to provide data to assist the development of health promotion programs in this population. METHODS: Study subjects included 201 community dwelling elders recruited during December 1 to 31, 2013. Data collected included socio-demographics, oral health (OHIP-14), activity of daily living (ADL), depression status (GDS-SF) and quality of life (QOL). For data analysis, ANOVA test, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were performed using the SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. RESULTS: Average score of OHIP was 0.71, depression was 6.34 and QOL was 2.12. There were significant differences in OHIP according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018) and disease staus (F=3.08, P=0.048). Also there were statistically significant differences in the depression status according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001) and economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018), and in QOL according to education (F=7.01, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.87, P=0.009) and disease (F=11.04, P<0.001). ADL influenced OHIP and depression, OHIP influenced depression and depression influenced QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health in the elderly should be considered in developing health programs for quality of life.

The Effects of Oral Health on Activity of Daily Living, Depression and Quality of Life in Elderly Women

BACKGROUND: Although oral health in the elderly significantly affects their physical health and quality of life, there have only been limited studies on the relationship between oral health and quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between oral health, ADL, depression and quality of life in the elderly in Korea, and to provide data to assist the development of health promotion programs in this population. METHODS: Study subjects included 201 community dwelling elders recruited during December 1 to 31, 2013. Data collected included socio-demographics, oral health (OHIP-14), activity of daily living (ADL), depression status (GDS-SF) and quality of life (QOL). For data analysis, ANOVA test, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were performed using the SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. RESULTS: Average score of OHIP was 0.71, depression was 6.34 and QOL was 2.12. There were significant differences in OHIP according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018) and disease staus (F=3.08, P=0.048). Also there were statistically significant differences in the depression status according to education (F=7.49, P=0.001) and economic status (F=4.08, P=0.018), and in QOL according to education (F=7.01, P=0.001), economic status (F=4.87, P=0.009) and disease (F=11.04, P<0.001). ADL influenced OHIP and depression, OHIP influenced depression and depression influenced QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health in the elderly should be considered in developing health programs for quality of life.

Structural Equation Modeling of Suicidal Ideation and Associated Factors among Elderly Women in Korea

BACKGROUND: Although the suicide rate in Korea is the highest in the world, only limited studies have been done on suicide and its associated factors. In this regard, we studied a conceptual model and the relationships and interactions of activity of daily living (ADL), social support, depression, and suicidal ideation among elderly women in Korea. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study, subjects included 194 community-dwelling elderly women. Their ADL, multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), depression, and suicidal ideation (SI) were examined. The t-test, ANOVA test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, multiple regression analysis, and structural equation modeling were utilized in data analysis. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between SI and economic status, social support, and depression. Depression was correlated with not only SI but also ADL (r=0.195, P=0.006) and social support (r=-0.337, P<0.001). Absolute fit indices demonstrated that the research model had a good model fit. There were significant factor loading values from depression to SI (standardized estimate=0.157, P=0.023) and from social support to SI (standardized estimate=-0.308, P<0.001). There were two indirect effects from social support to SI and from ADL to SI. The mediating factor of these two indirect effects was depression. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal ideation in the elderly needs to be prevented; and more attention should be given to this end. Social support programs encouraging family participation are greatly effective in prevention of senior citizens' suicidal ideation.

Effects of a Cognition Activation Program for the Institutionalized Old-Old in Korea

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to test effects of a cognition activation program on ADL, cognitive functions, depression, and QOL in the institutionalized elderly. METHODS: The subjects were 40 elders who were admitted to a nursing home, with 20 of them in the experimental group and the other 20 in the control group. Data were collected from September 1 to December 17, 2012. The experimental group participated in a 12 week intervention program. ADL, cognitive functions, depression, and QOL were measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed by t-test and regression analysis of the SPSS and AMOS programs. RESULTS: ADL (t=2.468, p=.017), depression (t=-2.625, p=012), and QOL (t=2.428, p=.020) were more significantly improved in the experimental group than in the control group, but there were no statistical differences in cognitive function between the two groups. Cognitive functions had positive effects on ADL (CR=-2.263, p=.024) and depression affected QOL (CR=-7.248, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The intervention program had positive effects on ADL, depression, and QOL except cognition. Cognitive functions of elders dramatically decrease after age 85, and it takes too much time to improve it. Therefore the program for the improvement of cognitive functions should be provided as early as possible.

A Study on Urinary Incontinence Related Health Problems in Women above Middle Age in Rural Areas and Their Coping with the Problems

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the current urinary incontinence states in women above middle age dwelling in rural areas and their coping with the problems. METHODS: The participants were 261 women above middle age. Data were collected from February to May, 2012 using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed with the SPSS/WIN 20 program. RESULTS: The frequency of urinary incontinence in women above middle age was 45.4%. There were significant differences in urinary incontinence due to age, education, job status, frequency of delivery, and menstrual status. And, there were significant relations among urinary symptoms, difficulty of ADL, incontinence stress and depression. Frequently used coping-methods with urinary incontinence were washing frequently in order to avoid awful smell, paying attention to perineal cleaning, and going to restroom frequently. CONCLUSION: Community nurses who are in charge of primary health care ought to assess urinary incontinence and develop a urinary incontinence program that includes psychological and social factors.

Effects of Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) on Depression and Quality of Life among Community-dwelling Korean Elderly Persons

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between oral health impact profile, depression and quality of life among community-dwelling elderly persons in South Korea. METHODS: The design of this research was cross-sectional descriptive study. The participants were 266 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 and older. Data were collected from November 20 to December 20, 2011. The measurements for assessing the subjects' oral health, depression, quality of life were OHIP-14, GDS-SF and QOL. Data were collected using self-administered or interviewer-administered questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 77.68, and 86.5% were female, 42.9% were living-alone elders. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis found that oral health impact profile was significantly associated with depression (r=-.622, p<.001), QOL (r=-.400, p<.001), number of disease (r=.298, p<.001), age (r=.198, p=.002), education (r=-.149, p=.015), eating habit (r=.185, p=.003). The QOL was explained 54.7% by depression (beta=-.619), oral health impact profile (beta=-.127), number of benefited welfare service (beta=.235), perceived health (beta=-.327), eating habit (beta=-.094) using stepwise multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the intervention program of oral health promotion for community-dwelling elders is needed from now on.

Caregiver Burden in Caring for Elders Before and After Long-term Care Service in Korea

PURPOSE: Purposes of this study were: evaluation of family burden of caring for elders who receive long term care services, and examination of differences in burden before and after the introduction of long term care service in Korea. METHODS: Data were collected by questionnaires from 416 caregivers of elders who were registered with the Long Term Care Insurance Corporation in six cities. Data were collected in September, 2010 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and ANOVA with the Scheffe test, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Family burden decreased significantly after long-term care service was initiated. Subjective burden decreased from 2.93 to 2.69 (t=11.78, p<.001), and objective burden, from 3.40 to 3.10 (t=12.73, p<.001). Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that factors affecting subjective burden were family relations (F=13.60, p=.003), age (F=5.47, p=.019), job (F=6.98, p=.008), and education (F=4.59, p=.032), and that factors affecting objective burden were living together (F=17.66, p<.001), job (F=13.34, p=.003), monthly income (F=6.61, p=.010), and type of service (F=6.62, p=.010). CONCLUSION: The results of this first study to investigate caregiver burden after the Korean Long-term Care Insurance System was begun provide positive information for the development of strategies to decrease family burden in long term care.

Effects of Group Intervention Program on Depression and Quality of Life in Korean Elderly with Chronic Disease

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a group intervention program on elderly people with chronic disease(s) living in the community. METHODS: This study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest study. Participants were 101 elderly persons with hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus. The experimental group participated in an intervention program as a group while the control group participated individually, both for 16 weeks. The program involved health education, stretching exercises with thera-band and massage. The experimental group attended this program including group discussions while the control group attended the same program but without group discussions. Data were collected before and after the intervention, which went from September 1 to December 26, 2010. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's rho and repeated measure analysis of covariance. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the groups for depression (F=49.756, P<0.001) and quality of life (F=7.289, P=0.008) after the intervention program. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that intervention programs with a group approach are more effective than an individual approach for community-dwelling elderly with chronic disease. Therefore, a group approach should be considered when planning programs for elders in the community.