Journal of the Korea Convergence Society (한국융합학회논문지)

Korea Convergence Society (한국융합학회)
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A study on the experience of loneliness in elderly living alone: Focus group interview

독거노인의 심리적 외로움 경험분석: 포커스그룹 면담

  • 김두리 (건양대학교 간호대학) ;
  • 강경희 (건양대학교 치위생학과) ;
  • 이병임 (건양대학교 기초교양교육대학) ;
  • 김광환 (건양대학교 병원경영학과)
  • Received : 2018.02.28
  • Accepted : 2018.04.20
  • Published : 2018.04.28
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Abstract

This is a qualitative research that was carried out to analyze the experience of loneliness of the elderly people living alone using the result of focus group interviews. This study conducted interviews with 28 subjects in the Senior Welfare Center of D city. For the purpose, 28 persons were divided into 5 groups, and interviews were carried out with each group for 50-70 minutes. and the voluntary character of research participation was sufficiently explained. As a result of the research, three topic collections consisting of 'Unavoidable lonesomeness', 'Inevitable death', and 'Acceptance of my life' and seven subjects, which consist of 'Absence of spouse', 'Independence for children', 'Death of neighbor (friend)', 'Fear of death left alone', 'Laying down', 'Taking care of my health', and 'Soothing loneliness in my own way', were derived. The elderly persons living alone who participated in this research expressed their feeling of unavoidable loneliness and their effort to overcome the loneliness. Based on the findings of this research, it is hoped that diverse plans to overcome psychological loneliness of the elderly people living alone will be developed.

본 연구는 독거노인을 대상으로 독거노인의 외로움에 대한 경험을 분석하기 위한 포커스그룹 면담을 적용한 질적내용분석 연구이다. 본 연구 대상자는 D시 노인복지관을 방문하는 65세 이상 독거노인 28명을 대상으로 수행하였다. 연구대상자는 28명의 대상자를 5그룹으로 나누어 각 그룹 당 50-70분의 면담을 진행하였으며, 연구대상자의 연구참여 자발성에 대해 충분히 설명하였다. 본 연구결과 '피할 수 없는 쓸쓸함', '어쩔 수 없는 죽음', '내 삶의 수용' 인 3개의 주제모음과 '배우자의 부재', '자녀를 위한 독립', '주변인(친구)의 죽음', '홀로 남겨진 죽음의 두려움', '내려놓기', '내 건강 챙기기', '나만의 방식으로 외로움 달래기' 의 7개 주제가 도출되었다. 본 연구에 참여한 독거노인 연구대상자들은 어쩔 수 없는 외로움에 대해서 표현하였고, 스스로 외로움을 극복하기 위한 노력도 표현하였다. 본 연구결과를 토대로 추후, 독거노인의 심리적 외로움 극복을 위한 다양한 방안 개발이 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

Keywords

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