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KMID : 0379220200400040707
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Journal of Korea Gerontological Society
2020 Volume.40 No. 4 p.707 ~ p.727
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Perceived Social Support Among the Elderly People Living Alone and Their Preference for Institutional Care: Analysis of theMediator Effect in the Perception of the Probability of Lonely Death
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Cho Hye-Jin
Lee Jun-Young
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Abstract
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This study aims to empirically analyze the role that perception of the probability of lonely death among the elderly people living alone plays in the relationship between perceived social support and preference for institutional care based on Andersen’s expanded Behavioral Model (2002). The subjects (n=676) of this study were the elderly people living alone, extracted from the “2018 Seoul Aging Survey.” With “perceived social support” as an independent variable, “preference for institutional care” as a dependent variable, and “perception of the probability of lonely death” as a mediator variable, we conducted a Binary Logistic Regression to follow the three steps of analyzing mediation effect, as suggested by Baron and Kenny (1986). The results showed that perceived social support has a negative effect on the preference for institutional care and perception of the probability of lonely death among the elderly people living alone; at the same time, perception of the probability of lonely death was found to have a positive effect on their preference for institutional care. Lastly, perception of the probability of lonely death was found to partially mediate the effect of perceived social support among the elderly people living alone in terms of their preference for institutional care. Based on these findings, the practical implications of this study can be summarized as follows. First, various programs and support should be provided to the elderly people living alone in order to enhance the level of perceived social support, a factor that has been confirmed to increase preference for institutional care among the elderly people living alone. Second, as the perception of the probability of lonely death was confirmed to be a psychosocial factor of the preference for institutional care, we need to promote education and support for older people living alone to prepare them for lonely death. These efforts are expected to form a foundations for implementing a community-based integrated care system, “Aging in Place,” which is the policy direction required for older people care.
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KEYWORD
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the elderly people living alone, perceived social support, institutional care preference, perception of lonely death, expanding Andersen model
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