Abstract

Purpose: The study was done to compare and examine perceived health status, selfesteem, depression, and life satisfaction between institutionalized elders and those living in the community. Method: The design was a descriptive survey study, and the participants were 357 elders, aged 65 or older. Data were collected from April to June, 2007. Measures were the Perceived Health Status Scale, the Self-esteem Scale, the Korean Depression Scale, and the Life Satisfaction Scale. Data were analyzed using the SAS program. Results: First, the perceived health status of elders living at home was higher than that of institutionalized elders. Second, positive correlations were observed between perceived health status and self-esteem, between perceived health status and life satisfaction, and between self-esteem and life satisfaction. But negative correlations were observed between perceived health status and depression, between self-esteem and depression, and between depression and life satisfaction. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the importance of preventing depression in elders, both those institutionalized and those living at home. Also, concrete nursing interventions which are developed according to the general characteristics of the elders are needed.

Keywords

• Aged;
• Health;
• Self-esteem;
• Depression;
• Satisfaction

• 노인;
• 건강;
• 자아존중감;
• 우울;
• 생활만족도;