Adults In Seoul Research Articles

The factors related to depressive symptoms in urban older adults in South Korea: a study based on the Seoul Aging Survey

PurposeThis study aims to comprehensively examine the determinants of depression among urban older adults in Seoul, utilizing the social-ecological model to address multifaceted influences.MethodsA comprehensive analysis was conducted using data from the 2022 Seoul Aging Survey, which surveyed 2,914 individuals aged 65 and above. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors contributing to depressive symptoms, including socio-demographic characteristics, health behaviors and status, research accessibility, social support, and environmental influences.ResultsThis study revealed that poor subjective health (OR = 1.47) and the presence of multiple chronic diseases (OR = 1.59) significantly increased the risk of depressive symptoms among urban older adults. From a social support standpoint, living alone was associated with a higher risk of depression (OR = 1.66), low food security (OR = 2.56), and low digital competency (OR = 2.70) were all significant predictors of depressive symptoms. Additionally, a lack of engagement with cultural facilities (OR = 2.15) was identified as a critical environmental factor contributing to depression.ConclusionsThe findings underscore the need for comprehensive policy and practical interventions aimed at preventing chronic disease, enhancing social support networks, improving digital literacy, ensuring food security, and expanding access to healthcare and cultural facilities. Such measures are crucial in mitigating depression among urban older adults, thereby enhancing their overall well-being and quality of life.

A Grounded Theory of Walking for Health Promotion in Older Urban Adults.

Walking enhances the health, quality of life, and independence of older adults. However, a global decline in urban walking necessitates a re-evaluation of segmented, quantitative approaches to policies and theoretical frameworks in geriatric medicine for promoting walking among older adults. This study conceptualized the perceptions, experiences, and behaviors regarding walking, from a health promotion perspective, among older urban adults. Pedestrian-friendly communities were explored for older adults in Seoul, South Korea, using a grounded theory. Thirty-eight older adults actively engaged in walking were recruited between July and December 2020. A qualitative multimethod approach was used, and the collected data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding, with axial coding integrating textual and spatiobehavioral information. The open-coding process yielded 92 concepts, 47 subcategories, and 19 categories. Using axial and selective coding principles, a conceptual framework was developed to explain how walking shaped the daily lives of older urban adults and provided multidimensional health benefits. Walking perception attributes were characterized by "embodied subjectivity as a healthy older adult," "autonomy of movement," and "walking as a way to enrich or sustain life." Active walking facilitated interactions between older adults and their neighborhood environment within the context of compact and accessible urban living. A healthy and age-friendly community encourages interactions between older adults and their neighborhood environment by providing opportunities for daily walking for several purposes, such as providing a sense of autonomy, increasing health-promoting behaviors, and creating a sense of community.

Study on Filial Piety Attitudes among Adults in Seoul

Study on Filial Piety Attitudes among Adults in Seoul

Exploring the relationship-oriented spaces of social networks and depressive symptoms among older adults

The Republic of Korea has the highest suicide rate of older population among OECD countries, and depression is the prevailing factor. While it is well-known that the urban physical environment affects mental health, research on the physical characteristics of spaces remains limited. This study aims to explore relationship-oriented space characteristics that can form social networks and reduce depressive symptoms in older adults. After analyzing the differences in social interaction spaces between high-density and low-density areas for older adults in Seoul, we identified social interaction spaces (parks and traditional markets) that are frequently used based on on-site interview results. Two areas were selected for the questionnaire surveys. The main findings revealed that older adults living in areas with diverse spatial planning and close physical relationships between parks and traditional markets, convenient pedestrian environments, and lower population density of older adults had better social networks and lower depressive symptoms. More significantly, the physical characteristics of parks and traditional markets (convenient accessibility, maximized visibility, connectivity, and territoriality) significantly facilitate social interactions. Those engaging in social interactions within these spaces exhibited significantly better social networks and lower depressive symptoms. These findings underscore the importance of considering relationship-oriented space characteristics in spatial and urban planning.

Middle-aged adults' career trajectories and later-life financial security: evidence from Korea.

This study explored how middle-aged workers' career trajectory patterns were associated with their financial security later in life. Grounded by a life course perspective, we approached their career trajectories by considering a 'human agency within structure' framework. We explored sequences of employment status, starting with their lifetime main job to subsequent jobs after contractual retirement, using data from 1,010 middle-aged adults in Seoul, South Korea. The sequence analysis identified six career trajectory patterns. Stable career patterns included the Permanent to permanent trajectory as well as the Permanent to self-employment trajectory and these were most common among males with higher education degrees, higher earnings and better career alignment. Unstable career patterns such as the Temporary to temporary trajectory, the Permanent to temporary trajectory or the Churning trajectory were most common among those who were female, had lower levels of education lower earnings or had retired involuntarily. Further results showed that unstable career patterns were associated with lower levels of monthly earnings and total assets post-contractual retirement. Individuals with unstable career patterns were also less likely to be financially prepared for retirement. We suggest individualising education programmes for retirement preparation based on various career trajectories and demographic attributes to aid middle-aged adults in preparing for financial security later in life.

외식 배달 앱 서비스의 지각된 위험이 지속적 이용의도에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of perceived risk of food delivery app service on continuous use intention and the mediating role of subjective norms. A survey was conducted from May 9 to May 24, 2022 by the convenience sampling method targeting adults in Seoul who had experience using food service delivery apps, and a total of 266 copies were used as final data for empirical analysis. As a results, first, the psychological risk of the food delivery app service had a negative(-) effect on the continuous use intention, and the privacy risk had a positive(+) effect on the continuous use intention. Second, the subjective norms play a mediating role between the privacy risk of the food delivery app service and the continuous use intention. Through the results of this study, it will be possible to provide useful data to food delivery app service companies so that they can continue to use delivery app services by reducing consumers' perceived risk of delivery apps.

The Relationship between Living Arrangements and Sleep Quality in Older Adults: Gender Differences.

(1) Background: This study examined the effects of living arrangements on the quality of sleep among older adults and analyzed related gender differences; (2) Methods: A total of 4756 older adults in Seoul were included. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors, older adults living alone showed a poorer sleep quality compared with those living with others; (3) Results: When we analyzed the effects of living arrangements on sleep quality by gender, there was no difference in the risk of poor sleep quality between male older adults living alone and those living with others (OR = 1.089, 95% CI = 0.729–1.628), whereas the risk of poor sleep quality was higher for female older adults living alone than those living with others (OR = 1.359, 95% CI = 1.088–1.696); (4) Conclusions: In this study, we have confirmed that older women living alone had poor sleep quality compared to older men. Hence, gender-based approaches will be helpful when providing social support resources to older adults living alone.

Working in the Metaverse: Does Telework in a Metaverse Office Have the Potential to Reduce Population Pressure in Megacities? Evidence from Young Adults in Seoul, South Korea

Despite the growing number of teleworkers and the unsustainable challenges (e.g., environmental pollution) facing megacities due to population pressure, few studies have investigated whether telework can reduce population pressure in megacities. This study conducts a scenario-based experiment and proposes that telework can reduce population pressure in megacities by enticing megacity residents to leave the megacity. Specifically, given the increasing number of companies that are adopting metaverse teleworking offices, this study classifies telework into metaverse telework and non-metaverse telework and empirically demonstrates that both types of telework positively influence an individual’s intention to relocate from a megacity to a non-megacity. Additionally, this study further shows that metaverse telework has a greater impact on an individual’s intention to relocate from a megacity to a non-megacity than non-metaverse telework. This study demonstrates how different types of telework can differentially reduce population pressure in megacities and provides practical recommendations for policymakers and strategy managers to support this practice.

Role Value, Occupational Balance, and Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study on Exploring the Urban Older People Perspective in South Korea.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role value, occupational balance, and quality of life among urban older adults in South Korea. We recruited 90 urban older adults in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheong-do. Assessments used (1) Role Checklist, (2) Life Balance Inventory (LBI), and (3) WHO Quality of Life Scale abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF). Our results showed that the roles that were perceived as very valuable were as family members, housekeepers, and guardians (in descending order). The roles that were perceived as less valuable were students, volunteers, and organizational members (in descending order). The activities that individuals were actively pursuing were hygiene management, rest, and healthy eating (in descending order). By contrast, the activities that were not being actively pursued were composing (music, poetry), preparing for event planning, dancing, yoga, and taekwondo. The total score of the Role Checklist and WHOQOL-BREF total (r = 0.343, p < 0.01), K-LBI total and WHOQOL-BREF total (r = 0.386, p < 0.01), and role value total and K-LBI (r = 323, p < 0.01) showed a statistically significant correlation. As a result of the regression analysis, the sub-item of work balance that affected the quality of life was managing appearance (R2 = 51.7, p < 0.001). These data showed that the role of urban older adults in Korea was mainly played within the family. The level of participation was low in the areas of instrumental daily life activities, work, leisure, and social participation. We propose that this population needs to be provided with opportunities for active aging through broader professional participation.

Community welfare resources and late-life depression among older adults in Seoul: A multi-level analysis.

This study aimed to examine whether community welfare resources in neighborhoods (recreational facilities, healthcare access, and public welfare expenditure) are associated with late-life depression among older adults in Seoul, South Korea. Data for this study were obtained by merging two different data sources: the 2018 Seoul Elderly Survey for individual-level variables and publicly available administrative data for neighborhood-level variables. The sample included 3036 older adults (unweighted n=3034) living in 25 neighborhoods (Gu) in Seoul. Multilevel regression models examined the effects of neighborhood-level variables on late-life depression while controlling for individual-level variables. We also explored the extent to which individual characteristics moderate the main effects of neighborhood characteristics on late-life depression. The results indicated that recreational facilities, health care centers, and public welfare expenditure in the neighborhoods were associated with late-life depression among older adults beyond individuals' predisposing conditions. Also, the effects of recreational facilities and public welfare expenditure on depressive symptoms were larger for those with higher education level. Older adults living in neighborhoods with more recreational facilities, more health care centers, and high public welfare expenditure were less likely to experience late-life depression. Of note is that the effects of neighborhoods' recreational facilities and public welfare expenditure varied by certain individual characteristics. Hence, local governments should introduce neighborhood-based health promotion policies to prevent depression among older adults. In doing so, local governments should also consider ways to improve access to community welfare resources for underprivileged older adults.

Suicidal ideation associated with depression and social support: a survey-based analysis of older adults in South Korea

BackgroundThis study examined the effect of depression on suicidal ideation among older adults in South Korea. Furthermore, this study investigated how social support, as a factor that reduces depression among older adults, mediates the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation.MethodsBased on a survey of 260 older adults in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, suicidal ideation, depression, and social support were evaluated using the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Measurement of Social Support in the Elderly, respectively.ResultsA multiple regression analysis confirmed that depression and social support were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Based on path analysis, we found that social support mediated the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation.ConclusionsTherefore, this study provides concrete insights for policymakers and social workers about how suicidal ideation among older adults may be diminished. Particularly, the role of depression and social support in suicidal ideation is a matter of concern for older adults in South Korea.

서울·경기지역 20-30대 성인의 음식관여도와 건강식행동 및 외식행동과의 연관성 비교

서울·경기지역 20-30대 성인의 음식관여도와 건강식행동 및 외식행동과의 연관성 비교

Severe Human Bocavirus-Associated Pneumonia in Adults at a Referral Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.

We report a case series of severe human bocavirus–associated pneumonia in adults in Seoul, South Korea. The virus accounted for 0.5% of all severe pneumonia cases. Structural lung disease and hematologic malignancy were common underlying diseases. Overall death rate was 54.5%. Higher death rates were associated with co-infection (83.3%) and immunocompromise (80.0%).

Municipal Residence Level of Long-Term PM10 Exposure Associated with Obesity among Young Adults in Seoul, Korea.

Background: long-term effects of ambient pollutants used to be defined in cohort studies using biomarkers. Health effects on young adults from long-term exposure to particulate matters (PM) in residential ambiance have received less attention. Methods: using the data of population-representative aged 19–29 in Seoul, the relationship between obesity and PM10 levels of the living district was examined. We defined obesity as Body Mass Index (BMI) 25 kg/m2 and more. Survey logistic regression was conducted according to individual residence periods in the current municipality. Individual characteristics were adjusted overall and were age-specific; aged 19–24 and 25–29. Results: study population was 3655 (1680 (46%) men and 1933 aged 19–24 (52.9%)) individuals. Relationship between length of residence in municipalities with a greater level of PM10 from 2001–2005 and obesity was increased over the residing period; 10 years ≤ (odds ratio (OR) 1.071, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.969–1.185), 15 years ≤ (1.120, 1.006–1.247), and 20 years ≤ (1.158, 1.034–1.297) in aged 19–29. Age-specific effects showed slight differences. Conclusions: Although PM10 levels are currently decreasing, higher levels of PM10 exposure in the residential area during the earlier lifetime may contribute to obesity increase among young adults.

지역특성이 노인층·청년층 주거만족도에 미치는 영향 분석 : 구조방정식 경로분석모형을 활용하여

This study aims to clarify the effect of regional characteristics on residential satisfaction of Seoul citizens by using data from the 2017 Housing Survey and the Seoul Open Data Square. For this purpose, path analysis of the structural equation model is used to identify the different policy implications for age groups with sub-samples of the whole age group, the elderly, and the young. Our results present various regional characteristics that have direct and indirect effects on residential satisfaction among all ages, senior citizens, and young adults in Seoul. In particular, the area of green space, the number of firms, the number of institutes, and the number of medical facilities are found to increase the residential satisfaction of the citizens in Seoul. However, these effects are not the same for older people and younger people. Older people tend to have higher residential satisfaction as there are well-equipped medical facilities in the area, and young people tend to prefer areas with more jobs and various amenities near their residence. These results suggest that a policy that is intended to improve residential satisfaction in Seoul should be differentiated by age groups.

전통주 선택속성이 구매의도에 미치는 영향 : 라이프스타일의 매개효과

This study derives more practical implications for establishing an efficient marketing strategy for the traditional liquor industry by verifying the mediating effect of the lifestyle between traditional liquor property attributes and purchase intention. We analyzed 382 adults in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Busan, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Ulsan. Second, the social pursuit lifestyle plays a mediating role between the internal, the external selection attribute and the purchase intention. The gourmet pursuit lifestyle plays a mediating role between internal factors and purchase intentions, but external factors do not. The implications of the research results, effective marketing strategy must be implemented to understand and maximize of buying behavior for traditional liquor. Also, by developing content suitable for lifestyle and grafting it into marketing, it shows logically that it is important for consumers to have a positive attitude toward traditional liquor.

Needs for Integrated Care for Older Adults in Seoul

본 연구는 65세 이상 노인의 돌봄요구군을 분류하고, 군간 특성을 확인하기 위하여 수행되었다. 한국보건사 회연구원이 진행한 ‘2017년도 노인실태조사’의 자료를 이용한 이차자료 분석연구로, 분석대상은 2017년 노인실태 조사 참여자 중 서울시 노인 999명, 가중치 부여 1,295,491명이다. 돌봄요구군의 분류를 위하여, 의료요구, 일상생 활수행 지원요구, 사회적 활동 지원요구의 특성을 파악하였다. 지원요구가 하나도 없는 일반군이 50.4%, 의료요구군 이 17.9%, 일상생활수행 지원요구 또는 사회적 활동 지원요구가 있는 복지요구군이 14.2%, 의료요구와 복지요구가 모두 있는 복합요구군이 17.5%이었다. 성별, 흡연, 치매검진, 지난 1년간 외래이용, 일상생활수행 도움 여부, 비동거 자녀 또는 손녀 여부를 제외한 일반적 특성, 장기요양등급 및 장애등급 현황, 경제적 부담 및 일상생활 도움 정도, 건강행태와 건강상태, 삶의 만족도에서 돌봄요구군간 유의미한 차이를 보였다(p<.001). 복합요구군에게 의료와 복지 의 통합돌봄 서비스를 우선 제공해야 한다. 특히 복합요구군은 의료, 복지, 운동, 영양, 정신건강, 간호의 요구를 모두 가지고 있는 대상자로 다학제적 팀 접근이 필요하다.

고령자의 헬스리터러시 관련 요인: HLS-EU-Q16 측정도구 활용

Objectives: This study was performed to identify and investigate the factors associated with the level of health literacy among older adults in Seoul, using the European Health Literacy Survey Q16(HLS-EU-Q16) measure. Methods: Data were drawn from a cross-sectional study conducted in Seoul of older residents, aged 60~79. A total of 302 elderly were recruited according to gender, age, and geography. Health literacy was assessed using the short version of the HLS-EU-Q16. The comprehensive health literacy measure consists of three domains: health care, diseases prevention, and health promotion. For explanatory variables, demographic(gender, age, marital status), socioeconomic(education level, subjective economic status, National Basic Livelihood Act recipients), and health-related factors (self-rated health, number of chronic diseases and, medical check-ups) were considered. Descriptive statistics and multivariate linear regression models were used to identify variables associated with health literacy. Results: The mean score of health literacy was 11.4±3.7. Multivariate regression analyses found significant associations between health literacy and education, subjective economic status(higher), number of chronic diseases(over 3), and medical check-up(additional). Associated factors differed by domain-specific health literacy. Conclusion: Health promotion programs for elderly should pay more attention to vulnerable groups in regarding health literacy. The results call for further studies with utilizing longitudinal design and diverse measures.

서울지역 취약계층 고령자를 위한 급식서비스 운영 실태와 개선 방안

본 연구에서는 지역사회 취약계층 고령자 대상 급식서비스의 운영 실태를 파악하고 개선 방안을 제시하고자 서울지역 복지관 급식관리자를 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하였다. 조사에 참여한 급식관리자는 경로식당 서비스의 위생관리에 대해 우수하게 평가하였는데, 기존 문헌에서 급식관리자들이 위생관리를 중요하게 인식하고 실천하는 것으로 보고된 것과 유사한 결과였다. 그에 반해 경로식당 운영에 참여하는 생산 인력, 조리시설, 예산, 식당 규모에 대해서는 보통 정도의 평가를 보여 급식 운영자원을 부족하게 인식하였다. 급식관리자들은 도시락 · 밑반찬 배달서비스가 고령자 안부 확인에 효과적이라는 점을 가장 높게 평가하였고, 필요로 하는 고령자에게 서비스가 제공된다고 평가하였다. 급식관리자들은 도시락과 밑반찬 식단에서 메뉴 선택권 제공과 고령자의 질병 상태 반영 정도는 낮게 평가하였고, 인력과 조리시설 부족, 예산 부족으로 건강식을 제공하지 못한다고 답하였다. 도시락 수혜 고령자들은 식단이 기호와 건강상태에 맞지 않는 점을 불만으로 여기므로 향후 고령자의 질병과 기호를 고려한 식사를 제공하는 방안이 필요하며, 이를 운영하기 위한 지원이 이루어져야 할 것이다. 고령자에게 영양교육을 실시한다고 응답한 비율은 47.6%로 낮은 편이고, 급식관리자들은 고령자 대상 영양교육 효과에 회의적이었다. 교육효과를 높이기 위해 기존의 일회성 집합영양교육 형태에서 벗어나 취약계층 고령자의 요구와 특성을 고려한 교육 전략활용이 필요한 것으로 나타났다. 급식서비스 담당자들은 경로식당 서비스에 적합한 대상으로 경제적 어려움이 있는 고령자, 독거 고령자, 심리적으로 고립된 고령자, 80세 이상 고령자를 선택하였고, 도시락 및 밑반찬 배달 서비스에는 거동 불편한 고령자, 경제적 어려움이 있는 고령자, 독거 고령자, 중증 질환을 가진 고령자가 적합하다고 선택하였다. 고령자 대상 급식프로그램의 종류에 따라 적합한 대상이 다르게 나타났으므로, 향후에는 프로그램별 표적 고령자층을 구분하고 표적 고령자의 요구를 세밀하게 파악하여 프로그램 운영 요인 믹스를 개발하는 것이 요구된다. 최근 지역사회 고령자를 대상으로 실시된 영양중재 프로그램에서 고령자의 기호와 건강상태에 적합한 식사 제공과 함께 스스로 식생활과 건강관리 능력을 향상시키는 교육프로그램을 적용했을 때 건강 개선 효과가 높게 보고되고 있다. 현재 건강관리서비스(영양서비스)와 복지서비스(식사지원 서비스)로 나누어져 제공되는 지역사회 고령자 대상 식품 · 영양지원서비스를 일원화하고, 고령자 요구를 반영하여 맞춤형으로 개선하려는 방안이 요구된다.

Understanding Factors Associated with Unmet Need for Outreach Community Health Service among Older Adults in Seoul

이 연구는 서울시 찾아가는 동주민센터(이하 ‘찾동’) 노인 방문건강관리 서비스를 이용해 본 경험이 있는 노인들을 대상으로, 건강관리 서비스 미충족에 영향을 미치는 요인을 분석하고, 향후 효과적인 커뮤니티케어 정착을 위한 동 단위 방문건강관리 사업의 방향성을 제시하고자 하는 목적으로 수행하였다. 이를 위해 찾동 2단계(’16. 7. 1 ~ ’17. 6. 30) 사업에 참여한 17개 자치구 만 65세, 만 70세 노인 중 1,000명을 자치구별 비례할당 및 임의 추출하여 대면 설문조사를 실시하였다. 서비스 미충족 영향요인의 경우, 개인 및 자치구 환경적 요인으로 나누어 다수준 회귀분석을 실시했다. 연구결과 서비스 미충족을 높이는 개인적 요인으로 사회경제적 수준(고소득, 독거 및 노인가구), 건강수준(복합만성질환, 건강문해력, 우울), 찾동 경험(간호사 1회 방문, 적은 서 비스 제공시간 및 낮은 이해도), 사회신뢰(낮은 정부신뢰)로 나타났으며, 자치구 요인으로는 사업 시행기간이 짧을수록, 재정자주도가 낮을수록 서비스 미충족 확률이 높았다. 이를 통해, 커뮤니티케어의 효율성 제고를 위 한 다음의 제언을 하고자 한다. 첫째, 건강관리 서비스 수혜 대상을 현재의 65세 및 70세 노인 전수 방문에서 중장기적으로 경제적 또는 건강 취약가구로 사업의 초점대상을 좁혀서, 제한된 예산 속에서 서비스의 질을 높이는 방안에 대한 고민이 요구된다. 둘째, 방문 대상 연령을 만 65세에서 만 66세로 전환하고 국민건강보험공단 생애주기별 건강검진사업과 결과를 공유하여, 사업의 효율성이 높이는 것을 고려할 필요가 있다. 서울시 찾동 사업은 시군구를 중심으로 운영되던 국민건강관리를 행정동 단위로 낮추어 국민들이 체감도를 높이고, 지역사회 건강관리의 패러다임을 바꾸었다는 점에서 의미가 크다. 이 연구가 향후 커뮤니티케어의 효과적인 정착을 위한 기초자료 및 정책 대안으로 활용되기를 기대한다.The purpose of this study was to examine various factors influencing the needs of Seoul’s newly implemented outreach community services for older adults, and to suggest the direction of the outreach community health services in Seoul. A multi-level regression was conducted using data collected by face-to-face interviews from 1,000 individuals aged 65 and 70 in 17 districts, where participated in the Seoul’s outreach community services. The results demonstrated that socioeconomic status (higher income and living alone), health status (having multiple chronic conditions and depression, lower health literacy), limited experience of the outreach community services, and low government trust at the individual level were associated with higher unmet need for the community outreach services. In addition, shorter participation period of the outreach services and financial independency at the district level were associated with higher unmet need for the services. The findings from this study implies the need for improving the quality of services by focusing on vulnerable groups such as individuals with lower income and worse health status. In addition, the outreach community health services may need to target individuals aged 66 to increasing efficiency of the services through utilizing results of life-cycle health checkup by the National Health Insurance Corporation.