Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide information of the structure of the social support network and life interchange with the social support network which influence the life satisfaction in the rural elderly. The sample of this study was selected from the elderly living in Korea rural areas. 350 out of 363 respondents were finally selected as datum sources. The methodological instrument was the questionnaire. The major findings of this study can be summarized as follows: First most of rural elderly had the relationship all kinds of social support network-family kin neighbors & friend. And the family was the primary source of support network. The com-mon size of the social support network was 1-3 persons. Second the frequency of the contact with the family the neighbors & the friends were almost daily and they were interacting in a near distance. The interchange with the social support network was high. Life satisfaction of the rural elderly was low. Third the interchange with the family and the kin the emotional interchange had the effect upon life satisfaction. Also the economic service support was significant in the kin and the neighbors.

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