한국 사회노년학 연구와 이론적 발전

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

There has been a significant growth in the amount of research in the social gerontology in Korea since 1980. Thus, this is a proper time for an assessment of current theoretical perspectives as well as prospects for future development in the study of aging in Korea. The purpose of this paper is to examine the application of current social theories of aging and suggest future directions for theory construction. Twelve theories have been assessed in this paper:disengagement thoery, modernization theory of aging, age stratification, life course perspective, exchange theory, activity theory, social break down theory, subculture theory, political economy of aging, world systems perspective of aging, social phenomenology and feminist perspective. Among these, modernazation theory of aging, age stratification, life course perspective, activity theory, and social phenomenology have been applied to the study of aging in Korea. It is found that there have been the greater attention and the increasing interest in theory development in Korea since 1980. We suggest that a more broad and thorough examination of the social context of the aging process should be included in the study of aging in Korea.