The purpose of this study is to explain risk factors and protective factors which affect resilience of the single elderly people and to analyse what the mediating effect of dating is. I expect that this study make contribution to emphasize the importa...
The purpose of this study is to explain risk factors and protective factors which affect resilience of the single elderly people and to analyse what the mediating effect of dating is. I expect that this study make contribution to emphasize the importance of psycho-social environment of the single elderly people by conducting research separately on the impacts of risk factors and protective factors on resilience of the single elderly people. It is also intended to verify the mediating effect of dating with regards to the impact of risk factors and protective factors on resilience of the single elderly people. After the verification, we may find that there are differences between the risk factors and protective factors in promoting the resilience of the single elderly people. It is expected that this study could be a theoretical basis for the social welfare organization’s possible involvement and the influence of dating in promoting the resilience of the single elderly people from the perspective of social welfare.
The data for this study was collected by the survey which was conducted with the assistance of the permanent social workers. The questionnaire was distributed to 350 single elderly people and 304 answers were obtained. For this study, the characteristics of major variables were figured out by the way of demographic characteristics. The verification was conducted respectively as to risk factors, protective factors and dating factors in order to find out the impact on resilience of the single elderly people. In analysing the data, both of frequency analysis and descriptive statistics analysis were used via SPSS (PASW) 18.0 statistical program. And the verification of intermediation variables was performed through either regression or path analysis in order to identify the factors which affect on the resilience.
The results of this study can be outlined as follows.
First of all, as risk factors which are independent variables, the depression, the stress, the ageism and the difficulty of dating show respectively average 9.83(SD=2.30), average 5.01(SD=1.40), average 10.25(SD=4.18) and average 23.84(SD=3.40). And as protective factors which are independent variables, the feeling of self-efficacy, the social support and the family support show respectively average 44.77(SD=7.75), 31.87(SD=4.53), 25.46(SD=7.59). The resilience which is a dependent variable shows average 75.26(SD=11.30), which is higher than the half of 125 which is the highest number. As a parameter(or mediator), the necessity of dating shows average 37.46(SD=7.72), which is relatively high in considering the total point of 64.
Secondly, considering risk factors in light of demographic characteristics, the depression differs statistically in significance depending on allowance and stress. The religion differs statistically in significance depending on gender. The difficulty of dating differs statistically in significance depending on living expenses. The F value is 2.503 and the significant difference appears at the level of .05. And considering protective factors in light of demographic characteristics, the feeling of self-efficacy differs statistically in significance depending only on allowance. The F value is 4.321 and the significant difference appears at the level of .05.
Thirdly, considering the necessity of dating in light of demographic characteristics, it(F=22.555, p<.001) differs statistically in significance depending only on living expenses.
Fourthly, considering resilience in light of demographic characteristics, it differs statistically in significance depending on age(F=3.579, p<.05), religion(t=2.196, p<.05) and living expenses(F=4.708, p<.01).
Fifthly, risk factors which affects resilience are ageism and difficulty of dating. The protective factor which affect resilience is social support.
Sixthly, according to path analysis of risk factors and resilience with parameter(or mediator) of dating, the resilience is significantly affected by ageism of risk factors.
Seventhly, according to path analysis of protective factors and resilience with parameter of dating, the resilience is significantly affected by family support of protective factors, and also resilience is significantly affected by dating.
Eighthly, as the significant probability of the necessity of dating is .000, The necessity of dating is statistically significant with the significant level of .001. The necessity of dating of the single elderly people has significant influence on the resilience.
Lastly, by the comparison of the demographic characteristics of the single elderly people with resilience and dating, it appears that only living expenses make significant statistical difference on resilience, but gender, age, religion, living partner, education, job or allowance does not.
Based on the result mentioned above, discussions have been made mainly on risk factors, protective factors, dating and resilience. In particular, it is proved that the single elderly people and the circumstances surrounding them interact significantly by way of risk factors and protective factors. Furthermore, theoretical, practical and policy-level suggestions are made on the basis of discussions above.
Firstly, it is meaningful to provide the theoretical basis to solve the social problem with the increase of the single elderly people. It is certain that the dating of the single elderly people is very important in solving the loneliness and the feeling of isolation of them.
Secondly, as a policy-level suggestion, elderly welfare policies should be enhanced (for instance survivor's pension, jobs for elderly etc.) to make their household economy stable. And the precautionary measures should be established to prevent the damage or abuse which can be occurred with intemperate dating (for instance, victim's identity security, public health service etc.). Also public information need to be cast wide in the mass media to improve the public perception of the single elderly people's dating, and the intervention policies should be contrived to promote the single elderly people's dating.(for example, the dating information center for the elderly and low-income elderly as well, etc.)
Thirdly, practical methods to realize social welfare should be developed. It is necessary that the single elderly people get chances to overcome the difficult circumstances with the assistance of such measures as ‘participating in various programs’, ‘leisure activities’, ‘counseling’ and ‘personality testing’. It is ideal that the single elderly people may have natural chance to meet the opposite gender in order to build up the positive thinking and the feeling of self esteem.
Therefore, we should recognize the necessity of dating for the single elderly people's positive adjustment to society, and to enhance their resilience. We should select the proper measures and utilize them effectively. This study could be a helpful guide to develop the programs for the single elderly people's resilience and to operate the programs effectively and to provide high-quality service.