Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the conditions of the leisure type, health status, self-esteem, and social support of the elderly living alone. Method: The subjects were 189 elderly. The instrument was a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The frequency of the leisure types of the elderly living alone was in the order of culture, rest, social activity and sports. The following factors showed a statistically significant relation: gender, education, religion and marital status with leisure type; age, economic status, job and leisure type with perceived health status; education, economic status and religion with self-esteem; and economic status, marital status and religion with social support. There was a negative correlation between ADL and both perceived health status, and self-esteem, but positive correlations between self-esteem and perceived health status, and between social support and both perceived health status and self-esteem. Conclusion: To maintain the quality of life of the elderly living alone, this study suggests that providing various leisure activities could raise self-esteem, and thereby complement for any deficiencies in family and social support.

Keywords

• Elderly living alone;
• Leisure type;
• Health status;
• Self-esteem;
• Social support

• 독거노인;
• 여가활동;
• 건강상태;
• 자아존중감;
• 사회적지지;