This research analyzed relations of successful aging and health factors, psychological factors, and productive activity factors to examine factors affecting on successful aging focused on productive activities. Two hundred six elderly persons aged 60 ...
This research analyzed relations of successful aging and health factors, psychological factors, and productive activity factors to examine factors affecting on successful aging focused on productive activities. Two hundred six elderly persons aged 60 and over living in Seoul and Gyeonggi were interviewed through a convenient sampling and two hundred respondents were finally analyzed. Major findings of the study were as following.
First, level of successful aging was average 3.95(SD=.52). On the degree of successful aging, ‘self-controlling life’ was the highest, and ‘the aim for the perfection of self’ was the lowest.
Second, there were statistically significant differences in level of home making activities according to gender, age and academic level. There was statistically significant differences in level of social activities according to only age.
Third, the results that analyzed correlation of successful aging and demographic characters, health factors, psychological factors, productive activity factors were as following. There were positive correlations of successful aging, subjective status of health, social relationship, family support, spiritual well-being, level of social activity and level of productive activity. But, there were negative correlations of successful aging, monthly frequency of medical institution, and depression.
Fourth, the result of hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed low level of productive activities the factors affecting in successful aging were the subjective status of health, family support and spiritual well-being. In the middle level of productive activities the factors affecting in successful aging were marital status, social relationship, and spiritual well-being. Also, in the high level of productive activities the factor affecting in successful aging was family support. Finally, in the all level of productive activities the factor affecting in successful aging were depression, family support, and spiritual well-being.
Based on those results, there are implications in the social welfare policy and the practice of social welfare . First, effective approaches of the social welfare policy are needed in the improving level of productive activities for the elderly. Second, service of home making activities for the elderly persons living alone is essential. As the age become higher, and home making activities were reduced. Therefore, in the case of elderly persons living alone some supports are expected for their status of sanitary and nutrition. Third, the elderly persons participating on the economic activities must be improved in the level of social activities. In the cases of participating on the economic activities, their time and energy are tied to economic activities. So, they do not have enough time for social activities. Therefore, social welfare policy is needed for activating elderly social activities. Fourth, because only 15% of subjects participates were on the economic activities, and as the age become higher, chances of the economic activities were reduced. The policy should give more opportunities of productive activities for the elderly. Fifth, because of the important affecting factors psychological factors in elderly must be focused on.
In the future, follow-up studies will must include successful aging of broader subjects in age and living environments and deal with economical factors that aren't used in this study. And the scale of successful aging, and psychological factors in elderly must be revised and developed for better study.