The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of self-esteem, health status, family relationship and social participation on the life satisfaction of widows over sixty.
The subjects were 242 widows’ residing in Seoul.
The data were analyzed by frequencies, percentages, means, ANOVA(one-way), Scheffe-Test, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, Regression analysis and Cronbach’s α.
The life satisfaction of the aged widows was measured by Kim’s(1987) inventory.
The major findings of the study were as follows;
1. The majority of subjects were older than 76 years(57.9%), never educated(57.0%), lived with married children(92.1%) and had religions(82.6%).
2. The life satisfaction of widows were found to be significantly different with respect to the level of education, perceived financial status, health status, illness, self-esteem, and the close relationship with their grand-children and adult children.
3. The variables that were positively correlated with the life satisfaction of widows were self-esteem, the close relationship with their adult children, perceived financial status, the close relationship with their grand-children, health status and the level of education.
4. The regression analysis revealed that the life satisfaction of widows were significantly affected by self-esteem, the close relationship with their adult children, perceived financial status, and the close relationship with their grand-children. The regression model explained 35% of the life satisfaction of the aged widows.
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