| A Study on Perceived Family Support and Mental Health, Life Satisfaction of the Elderly |
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Rye Hun Song |
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Daejeon Health Sciences College Dept, of Nursing |
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| Abstract |
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This study aims at providing basic data for a strategy of supporting intervention by analytically studying the elderly's satisfaction with their mental health condition and understanding of the relationship between associated variables, so that the elderly can enjoy the rest of their life span.
To approach such a study, a total of 96
elderly people were intentionally selected, as a limited population of subjects, using a standard subject-selection. They were selected from DaejonCity 2-Gu Senior's Welfare Center for the elderly, form homes for elderly and from a grout of elderly residing at their own residences in two administrative districts in Daejon from October 16 to October 26, 2000. Data were collected through interviewing the elderly using a questionnaire.
The research instruments used for this studying were, a 5-point Likert scale question naire of ten questions developed by Gang, Hyen Sook to measure social support from the family and a 3-point Likert scale questionnaire of 17 questions developed by Choi. Young Hee to measure mental health and life satisfaction was the life satisfaction index-z a three Likert scale, compassed of 13 questions developed by Choi, Hae Kyung to measure life satisfaction.
For the subjects' general characteristics, actual numbers and percentages were calculated, for the degree of family members' support to the elderly and the mental health condition (state) of the elderly, maximum values, minimum values, averages, and standard deviations were calculated, to test the differences between the degree of family members * support to the elderly and the mental health condition of the elderly according to the general characteristics, an analytical study was implemented using t-test, and ANOVA, and lastly, to identify correlations between the degree of support from family members and the mental condition of the elderly. Pearson's Correlation Coefficient were used.
The results from the study were as follows：
1. For the degree of support from family members, the minimum value was 3.37, the maximum value 4.47, the average 41.64. and the standard deviation 7.30, The degree of support from family members was in the mid point range of support. For the degree of the subjects' mental health condition, the minimum value 2.21, the maximum value was 2.95, average 43.27, and the standard deviation 5.60, The mental health condition of the subjects was in the mid point range for mental health condition.
2. The general characteristics that showed a significant difference in the satisfaction with the degree of support received from family members were the age (F=2.785, p<.05) or whether they had a spouse (F = 5.904, p<.01) or not. The general characteristics that showed a significant difference in the elderly's mental health condition were the amount of monthly pocket money the elderly received from their child or children (F = 2.637, p<.05), whether of economy condition (F= 6.646, p<.01).
3. The family members' support to the elderly and the elderly's mental health condition showed statistically significant correlation (r = .546, p<.01), and the family members' support to the elderly and the elderly's life satisfaction showed statistically significant correlation(r = .471, p<.01).
The study results indicate that approaches to expanding family support for the elderly as a social support intervention should be developed in order to better the mental health condition and life satisfaction of the elderly. |
| Key Words:
Elderly; Family Support; Mental Health; Life Satisfaction |
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