J Prev Med Public Health.  2012 Jul;45(4):244-250. 10.3961/jpmph.2012.45.4.244.

Psychological, Social, and Environmental Factors Associated With Utilization of Senior Centers Among Older Adults in Korea

• Kim HS
• Miyashita
• Harada K
• Park JH
• So JM
• Nakamura Y

• KMID: 1383788
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2012.45.4.244

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships among the psychological, social, and environmental factors influencing the utilization of senior centers among older adults in Korea.
METHODS
A questionnaire survey was administered to two types of older adults who lived in Seoul, Korea: 262 older adults who used senior centers (3 places) and 156 older adults who did not use senior centers.
RESULTS
Our results showed clearly that the utilization of the senior centers in Korea is affected by higher self-efficacy (odds ratio [OR], 6.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.31 to 12.32), higher perceived benefits (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.16 to 4.36), lower perceived barriers (OR, 6.43; 95% CI, 3.07 to 11.45), higher family support (OR, 4.21; 95% CI, 2.02 to 8.77), and higher support from friends (OR, 4.08; 95% CI, 2.38 to 7.81). The results also showed that participants whose total travel time was 15 to 29 minutes (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.21 to 3.64) or less than 14 minutes (OR, 4.68; 95% CI, 3.41 to 8.41) were more likely to use a senior center than those who had to travel more than 30 minutes.
CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that the utilization of senior centers in Korea is affected by psychological, social, and environmental factors, specifically by self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, social support, convenience of transportation, and total travel time to the senior centers. The effects of longer-term utilization of the senior centers by non-users on health-related outcomes in a large population warrant attention.

Keyword

Senior center; Prevention of long-term care; Self efficacy; Perceived benefits and barriers; Social support; Built environment

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aging/*psychology
Community Health Centers/statistics & numerical data/*utilization
Cross-Sectional Studies
*Environment
Female
Health Services for the Aged/statistics & numerical data/*utilization
Health Surveys
Humans
Korea
Male
Questionnaires
Self Efficacy
*Social Behavior
Social Support
Time Factors
Travel