|
KMID : 0904520090250010005
|
|
Health and Medical Sociology
2009 Volume.25 No. 1 p.5 ~ p.32
|
|
|
Structures of Health Inequalities of Korean Elderly : Analysis of Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing
|
|
Lee Mi-Sook
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
This study attempted to examine the causal mechanisms of health disparities among elderly Koreans in terms of social inequalities. Secondary analysis was done for 4,155 probability sample aged 65 years or older from 「2006 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing」 by Korea Labor Institute. Analysis results presented that health disparities among elderly Koreans would not be simply regressed on the biological or physiological differences but more widely related to the unequal social conditions constrained by gender, education or income level. As intermediate mechanisms between social status and health disparities, the positive effect hypothesis of psycho-social resources including relationships with children and relatives or informal social organization participation was supported; whereas the negative effects of health-risk behaviors were not clear or somewhat contrary to the theoretical hypothesis. Upon these inconsistent results, the traditional Korean culture which were generous to drinking and smoking were discussed as risk factors. Confirming the gender or socioeconomic status as fundamental causes of health disparities, this study suggested the development of health promoting strategies for elderly women in the lowest ladder of SES as the first step of policy intervention to challenge the health inequalities among Korean elderly population.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
Elderly, Factors of Social Inequality, Health-Risk Behaviors, Psycho-Social Resources, Health Inequalities
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|