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KMID : 0904520100270010005
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Health and Medical Sociology
2010 Volume.27 No. 1 p.5 ~ p.30
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Chronic Diseases, Depressive Symptoms and the Effects of Social Networks in Korean Elderly Population
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Lee Mi-Sook
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Abstract
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This study investigated the morbidity of chronic disease and depressive symptoms among elderly people in Korea and examined the effects of social networks on the relationship of chronic disease and depressive symptoms. To examine the research questions, secondary analysis was done for 2,955 stratified probability sample aged 65 years or older living in urban area using data of the 2006 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, Korea Labor Institute. Analysis results showed that about 70 percent of the subject elderly had at least one chronic disease and more than half of them had trouble in daily activities and also about 43 percent of the subjects were classified into the risk-group of depressive symptoms. These results suggested that elderly people"s quality of life needs to be reconsidered even with their longer life expectancies. Given the strongest effect of chronic disease on the elderly"s depressive symptoms, health care system integrating both physical and mental health was especially emphasized for elderly population. In addition, functions of social networks on the risk effects of chronic disease on depressive symptoms were examined. The results supported the main effect hypothesis for the family network, especially having spouse and the satisfaction with children showed suppressing effects on depressive symptoms. Among social network, informal gathering and voluntary activities were found to buffer the negative effects of chronic disease on elderly"s depressive symptoms. Based on these results, the medical intervention integrating physical and mental health care was suggested for the elderly with dysfunctions because of their chronic disease, while social intervention to promote social networks of elderly population using social education and welfare program was suggested for the elderly who are healthy or having disease but no problem in daily activities.
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KEYWORD
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Elderly Population, Chronic Disease, Depressive Symptoms, Social Networks
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