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KMID : 1033320140040010027
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Global Health & Nursing
2014 Volume.4 No. 1 p.27 ~ p.36
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Comparison of Health Behaviors and Health Level between Elders Living Alone and Those Living with a Spouse
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Jeong Sun-Sook
Kim Jung-Soon
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Abstract
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Purpose: This study was conducted in order to identify differences in health behaviors and health level for elderly people who are living alone and those who are living with a spouse.
Methods: Study participants included 222 people living alone and 629 people living with a mate aged 65 years and over who were participants in the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2010. The statistical package SPSS 18.0 was employed. The data were analyzed for frequency, percentage, x2-test and multiple logistic regression.
Results: In general, older people living alone were less likely to sleep (aOR=2.44, p<.001) and to eat breakfast (aOR=3.87, p=.001), and more likely to think of suicide (aOR=2.06, p<.001) than older people living with a spouse. Older men living alone were more likely to smoke (aOR=2.20, p=.037), less likely to sleep (aOR=3.10, p=.007) and to eat breakfast (aOR=5.20, p=.012), and more likely to think of suicide (aOR=4.00, p<.001) than older men living with a spouse. Older women who live alone were more likely to smoke (aOR=4.97, p=.018) and less likely to eat breakfast (aOR=3.10, p=.031) than older women living with a spouse.
Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrated that older people living alone and those living with a spouse differ with regard to average sleeping time, not eating breakfast, and thinking about suicide. Therefore, specific plans fit for individual personality of elderly people in the community who are living alone and living with a spouse should be prepared.
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KEYWORD
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Health behaviors, Health level, Elders, Alone, Spouse
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