Research in Community and Public Health Nursing (지역사회간호학회지)

Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing (한국지역사회간호학회)
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Stress, Depression and Health Risk Behaviors in Korean Elders

노인의 스트레스, 우울 및 건강위험 행위에 관한 연구

  • Kim, Ae-Jung (Department of Nursing Yeojoo Institute of Technology) ;
  • Kim, Ok-Soo (College of Nursing Science, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Baik, Sung-Hee (Department of Nursing, Suwon Women's College) ;
  • Jang, Jong-Hwa (Department of Dental Hygiene, Hanseo University) ;
  • Kim, Jung-Hee (Department of Nursing, Woosuk University)
  • 김애정 (여주대학 간호과) ;
  • 김옥수 (이화여자대학교 간호과학대학) ;
  • 백성희 (수원여자대학교 간호과) ;
  • 장종화 (한서대학교 치위생학과) ;
  • 김정희 (우석대학교 간호학과)
  • Published : 2007.09.30
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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate stress, depression and health risk behaviors in elderly people. Methods: The subjects were 238 Korean elders who had visited the convalescent center. The level of stress was measured by the Korean version of BEPSI, which was developed by Bae, Jeung & Yoo (1992) and modified by Yim et al.(1996). CES-D was used to measure the level of depression. For health risk behaviors, we measured cigarette consumption and alcohol drinking during the last one month. Results: Of the subjects, 17.4% were excessive drinkers and 18.9% were currently smokers. The level of stress was between moderate and high, and 62.7% of the subjects were depressed. There were significant differences in stress and depression according to economic status and self-reported health. In addition, depression had positive correlations with stress and QF score. Conclusion: Stress and depression management programs for the elderly are needed. These findings indicate that nurses must consider stress and alcohol drinking when they take care of depressed elderly people.

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