Comparisons of Health Promoting Behavior, Depression, and Life Satisfaction Between Older Adults in Rural Areas in South Korea Living in Group Homes and at Home.

Sohyune R Sok,Min Kyung Gu,Ok Sun Kim,Bo Kyeong Cheon

doi:10.1097/jnr.0000000000000290

Sohyune R Sok, Min Kyung Gu + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1097/jnr.0000000000000290

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Abstract

ABSTRACTBackground:In South Korea, population aging is advancing at a more rapid rate in rural areas than urban areas, leading to a particularly high percentage of rural-dwelling older adults.Purpose:The aim of this study was to examine and compare health promoting behaviors, depression, and life satisfaction between rural-dwelling older adults who live, respectively, in group homes and at home.Methods:A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed. Study participants included 160 older adults aged 65 years and older who were living in group homes (n = 80) and at home (n = 80) in Gyeonggi province, South Korea. The Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile-II was used to examine health promoting behaviors, the Korean Geriatric Depression Screening Scale was used to examine depression, and the Life Satisfaction Index was used to examine life satisfaction. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 21.0.Results:The data showed significant differences between the two groups in terms of health promoting behaviors (t = −9.035, p < .001), depression (t = 20.861, p < .001), and life satisfaction (t = −12.153, p < .001).Conclusions/Implications for Practice:The mean scores for health promotion behaviors and life satisfaction were higher, and the mean score for depression was lower in the group-home group than the at-home group. The findings from this study may be employed as basic data for establishing residence-appropriate nursing intervention protocols for older adults living in rural areas.

Highlights

The average life expectancy of South Koreans was 82.4 years old, and the older adult population (Q 65 years old) accounted for 13.7% of the total population in 2016 (Korea National Statistical Office, 2016)
Considering that personal health is an important factor affecting friendship relationships (Chang & Park, 2012; Schulz, Boerner, Klinger, & Rosen, 2015; Shearer, Fleury, Ward, & O’Brien, 2012), older adults who live at home in rural areas of South Korea are more limited and disadvantaged than their peers who live in group homes in terms of the frequency and degree of interpersonal interactions (Ko, 2016; Sok & Kim, 2008)
The incidence of depression was lower among older adults living in group homes than among older adults living at home

Summary

Introduction

The average life expectancy of South Koreans was 82.4 years old, and the older adult population (Q 65 years old) accounted for 13.7% of the total population in 2016 (Korea National Statistical Office, 2016). Population aging has had a disproportional impact on rural areas (Jang & Kim, 2014), leaving rural South Korea with a relatively high percentage of older adults (Ko, 2016; Sok & Kim, 2008). Some scholars have argued that older adults should continue to reside in living environments with which they are familiar and comfortable (Oh, 2008; Van Zadelhoff et al, 2011; Verbeek, Zwakhalen, van Rossum, Kempen, & Hamers, 2012). In South Korea, population aging is advancing at a more rapid rate in rural areas than urban areas, leading to a high percentage of rural-dwelling older adults. Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine and compare health promoting behaviors, depression, and life satisfaction between rural-dwelling older adults who live, respectively, in group homes and at home

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