Factors Influencing Life Satisfaction Among the Senior Welfare Center Elderly / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate life satisfaction(LS) and to assess the factors that influence LS in senior center elderly people. METHODS: The subjects were 253 elders who visited the Y city Senior Welfare Center between July 2006 and August 2006. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. The instruments were composed of Kang's Family Support Scale, Depression Scale by Sheikh & Yesavage, Laffery's Health Concept Scale, and LS scale by Choi. T-test, ANOVA, Duncan test, Pearson coefficients correlation and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the data using the SPSS Win 12.0 program. RESULTS: The LS level showed a maximum score of 38 with a mean score of 23.23. The mean scores for depression, health perception and family support were 5.52(maximum score, 15), 77.46(maximum score, 112), 43.45(maximum score, 55) respectively. The LS were significantly correlated with health perception, depression and family support. Depression was the most powerful predictor of and it accounted for 42.0% of the total variance in LS. A combination of significance of eudaimonistic health perception and satisfaction with pocket money accounted for 47.2% in LS. CONCLUSION: Depression and health perception were identified as affecting variables for the LS. Based upon these results, nurses should help the aged to enhance their LS.

Effects of Lifestyle and Depression on the Nutritional Status of Elderly People / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate nutritional status, and the effects of lifestyles and depression on nutritional status of elderly people (NSE). METHOD: The participants were 280 elders who visited the Y city Senior Welfare Center between August 2006 and October 2006. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, lifestyle checklist, depression scale, and nutritional risk index. Also, Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated from height and weight. T-test, ANOVA, Duncan test, Pearson coefficients correlation and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the data using the SPSS Win 12.0 program. RESULTS: The NSE mean score was mid level at 5.03. BMI was 23.42 which indicates overweight. Depression was the factor that influenced the nutritional risk index most strongly, accounting for 17.3% of the total variance in the NSE. A combination of significance of health, concerns about health, housing, condition of teeth, activity, and smoking pattern accounted for 29.8% of the variance in the NSE. Condition of teeth accounted for only 3.8% of the variance in BMI. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to be aware that variance in the NSE can be affected by several factors including depression and lifestyle and that depression is strongly related to poorer NSE.