As the middle to old-aged social network is reduced in Korea, the environment to fulfill the needs to psychological health enhancement became difficult. This is causing social issues such as depressions, suicides etc. Therefore, this research is desig...
As the middle to old-aged social network is reduced in Korea, the environment to fulfill the needs to psychological health enhancement became difficult. This is causing social issues such as depressions, suicides etc. Therefore, this research is designed to provide information on middle to old-aged people’s psychological health enhancement to prepare for fast approaching aged society. The research utilizes the data from 『Aging research panel analysis 1st (2006)~3rd (2010)』 which the target group was expanded to over age of 45. Using this data, annual social support variables and its relation to depressions was observed based on social network model. Also, the degree of influencing effects of social support variables as protective factors to depressions based on depression episode periods. The following results were yielded.
First, according to annual multivariate analysis, When the considered controling variables are calibrated, the number of meetings with friends and children relation satisfactions, which are social support feature variables, showed constant results annually, indicating that lower the number of meeting with friends and lower satisfaction rate with relationship with children showed significant increase in depression index. Also quantitative effect differences were compared according to gender and its effect on depression. Compared to the male group, female group showed significant difference in quantitative effect with number of meetings with friends, but children relationship satisfaction didn’t show clear differences according to gender. Results from observing controlling variables considered as forecast factors showed significant depression index increase in annual constance when; living in rural areas, in case of non-economical activity, when experiencing low economic status satisfaction, when having subjective negativism about ones health, and when not having regular exercises.
Secondly, to observe the influencing effect degree of social support variables as defensive factors to depression, according to panel analysis, When the considered controlling variables were calibrated, social support variables, which are the independent variables, showed that as number of meetings with friends are higher and as relationship satisfaction with children increases, depression risk degree significantly decreases. Also quantitative effect differences were compared according to gender and its effect on depression. When the considered controlling variables were calibrated, as the number of meetings with friends increased, depression index showed significant statistical decrease in both groups. However, number of participations in social meetings showed no statistically significant influence to depression index. In case of male group, as relationship satisfaction with the parter increased, depression index statistically decreased significantly, but relationship satisfaction with the children did not show significant influence. In case of female group however, as relationship satisfaction with the children increased, depression index significantly decreased whereas relationship satisfaction with the partner showed no significant influence to depression. Meanwhile by observing the considered controlling variables as forecast factors using panel analysis, older the age, low satisfaction in economical stature, lower everyday function capabilities, subjective recognition of health deprivation, and lower the frequency of regulatory exercises showed significant increase in depression index.
To promptly activate and develop the protective factors which prevents depression risks amongst mid-old aged people in both personal and national perspectives, the following aspects must be reviewed comprehensively. Activating programs and group meetings to overcome the conflicts amongst families through regional organizations must be reviewed. Social network structure to strengthen emotional connectivity through leisure-culture-art activity supportive systems and policies and customized intervention according to sexual differences must be considered. Stable income guarantee policy must be developed to consider the unstable economic conditions such as elderly poverty issues. Active promotion of regulatory physical exercise programs and various health related information provision through local society must be activated to maintain physically healthy life. Regional society based monitoring system targeting elderlies whom experiences difficulties in everyday activities, those requiring medical intervention, especially for single elderlies whose highly susceptible to health risks must be developed. Therefore, this research suggests a practical implications to respond to fast pacing old age society and projects that political efforts to enhance the mental health of the mid to old aged people are required.