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KMID : 0606519960010010014
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Journal of Korean Women s Psychiatric Association
1996 Volume.1 No. 1 p.14 ~ p.21
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Divorced in the Aged
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Woo Haing-Won
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Abstract
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In recent years, the divorce rate has increased in the aged but relatively little research has joined these topic in Korea. Then I reviewed the demographic data about the population of the aged and socioeconomic and sociopsychological aspect of divorce in the aged. After the above steps, I come up with the following findings.
First, Korea, Japan and US have higher percentages of population of the aged group and also higher growth rate of population, comparing to the other groups. It is true that the growth rate of lifespan is higer in woman than man.
In addition to the rise of divorce rate, in Korea, the rate of divorce in their fifties is not lower than Japan or US.
Second, the importance of socioeconomic effects of divorce is pointed out in Korea, Japan, and US. In Korea, the divorce rate of old woman is higher in urban area, and the rate of employment is higher in divorced woman than man. In general, most of them are in service businesses. Divorced man has lower socioeconomic level. The percentage of divorced unemployees is 2.5 times are greater than married. Especially, since the percentage of unemplyment of divorced woman is greater than man, the economic problems among the divorced´ woman are quite serious. In Japan, the economic solution and housing for the divorced old are the main problems, and in -US, widows or divorced woman are negatively affected by their marrital status. Even though divorce of the aged is lower in number relatively, it has serious effects on socioeconomic security. Therefore, political concern and attention are considered to be necessary.
Third, loneliness is the most significant problem in psychosocial aspects of divorce in the aged. In korea, they feel more lonely when the are older, single, and when their standard of living and academic background are lower, and especially if they are women. They feel isolated emotionally and socially, and induce unpleasantness and violent emotion. They are more selfcentered, introvert, and more passive on personal relationship as well as social life, and also they hate other people or even themseves. Because of hopelessness, despair, pessimism, and disability for the future, they have anxiety, depression, misery, and dissatisfaction, as well as tension, restlessness, and loss of self-esteem.
In terms of sex, divorced men have more problems in their health, on the other hand, divorced women have more psychological symptoms, serious emotional tension, and personal confusion.
Depression and suicide are the most serious problems among the divorced old man, and according to a report, women with professional occupations, especially medical doctors show higher risk of suicide.
In conclusion, only the minority of divorced in the aged have positive experiences in their lives, but the majority of them get hurt, and appeal more uncomfortable symtoms. They have more pessimistic and chronic dissatisfaction to the past and the future.
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KEYWORD
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Old aged divorce, Socioeconomic problem, Loneliness, Pessimism, Depresion, Suicide
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