J Korean Acad Nurs.  2018 Jun;48(3):349-361. 10.4040/jkan.2018.48.3.349.

An Ethnography on the Healthy Life of the Aged Women Participating the Senior Centers

• Kim E
• Yang J

• KMID: 2429110
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2018.48.3.349

Abstract

PURPOSE
This ethnography was performed to explore patterns and meanings of healthy life among aged women using senior centers.
METHODS
The informants were 21 individuals aged 65 years and older at 2 community-based senior centers. Data were collected from iterative fieldwork through in-depth interviews and participant observations and analyzed using text analysis and taxonomic methods developed by Spradley. Field notes were used with follow-up interviews and dialogue between authors to enhance interpretation.
RESULTS
Patterns of healthy life among aged women using senior centers were categorized by age groups within the context of the four cultural elements of taking care of the body, relationality, temporality, and spatiality: active and passive control, maintenance of interdependence and individuality, expansion and maintenance of the daily routine, unity of peer relations and sustenance of family relations, spending time productively and tediously, and complementary and alternative space of the family relations.
CONCLUSION
The informants in this study demonstrated healthy life by maintaining and strengthening continuous relationships developed in the senior centers without being isolated from the family and society. Patterns of their healthy life differed across age groups within the socio-cultural context. Therefore, interventions should be tailored to address age groups and community needs.

Keyword

Qualitative Research; Senior Centers; Aged; Healthy Lifestyle; Women's Health

MeSH Terms

Anthropology, Cultural*
Family Relations
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Individuality
Qualitative Research
Senior Centers*
Women's Health

Reference

References

1. Statistics Korea. Population census [Internet]. Daejeon: Statistics Korea;c2017. [cited 2018 Feb 5]. Available from:. http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/2/1/index.board?b-mode=read&bSeq=&aSeq=363362&pageNo=1&rowNum=10&navCount=10&currPg=&sTarget=title&sTxt=.

2. Kim EK. The risk factors of suicidal ideation by age groups among the elderly in Korea. Korean Journal of Health Promotion. 2015; 15(2):54–62. https://doi.org/10.15384/kjhp.2015.15.2.54.

3. Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. 2014 National survey data of the actual living condition of the elderly. Sejong: Ministry of Health and Welfare;2015. Dec. Report No.: 11-1352000-001426-12.

4. Korean Statistical Information Service. Number of facilities for the aged welfare and life status [Internet]. Daejeon: Statistics Korea;c2017. [cited 2018 Feb 5]. Available from:. http://kosis.kr/statisticsList/statisticsListIndex.do?menuId=M_01_01&vw-cd=MT_ZTITLE&parmTabId=M_01_01#SelectStatsBoxDiv.

5. Yoo SH. Characteristics of the older Koreans by their patterns of using senior centers and kyungrodang and policy implications. National Assembly Research Service. 2017; 9(2):247–273.

6. Park SK, Kim DH. Exploring ways toward vitalizations of senior centers in Gwangju city. The Korea Local Administration Review. 2014; 520:1–148.

7. Cho SJ. The changing senior citizen centers [Internet]. Jeonju: The Jeonbuk Ilbo;c2016. [cited 2018 Feb 6]. Available from:. http://www.jjan.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1105191.

8. Kim MI, Kim SJ, Kim JP. A study for health promotion behav- iors and depression of pre and old age group. Journal of Institute for Social Sciences. 2017; 28(3):285–307. https://doi.org/10.16881/jss.2017.07.28.3.285.

9. Ko GS, Lee YC. Study on the life satisfaction and depression in female users of senior citizen centers. Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology. 2017; 7(8):963–972. https://doi.org/10.14257/ajmahs.2017.08.20.

10. Kang HS, Jung SS. The effect of the traits of elderly people in senior citizen center on psychological well-being: Focusing on the mediating effect of depression. Journal of Social Welfare Management. 2017; 4(1):21–45.

11. Seo KH, Eun Y. Factors influencing physical activity in elderly women at senior citizen centers. Journal of Muscle and Joint Health. 2015; 22(3):236–244. https://doi.org/10.5953/JMJH.2015.22.3.236.

12. Lee KI, Eun Y. The relationship between health belief and exercise compliance among elderly adults at senior centers. Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing. 2015; 26(2):79–88. https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2015.26.2.79.

13. Turk MT, Elci OU, Resick LK, Kalarchian MA. Wise choices: Nutrition and exercise for older adults: A community-based health promotion intervention. Family & Community Health. 2016; 39(4):263–272. https://doi.org/10.1097/FCH.0000000000000116.

14. Kim JS. Experiences on welfare leisure living of old age women. Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology. 2017; 7(11):681–688. https://doi.org/10.14257/ajmahs.2017.11.90.

15. Im KM. Phenomenological study on time experience of the elder while playing Hwatu in senior citizen center. Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology. 2018; 8(1):279–287.

16. Yoo S. The context of perceived and desired social support among Korean older adults. Psychology, Health & Medicine. 2013; 18(1):47–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2012.672751.

17. Schoenborn NL, Van Pilsum Rasmussen SE, Xue QL, Walston JD, McAdams-Demarco MA, Segev DL, et al. Older adults’ perceptions and informational needs regarding frailty. BMC Geriatrics. 2018; 18(1):46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-018-0741-3.

18. Graham LJ, Connelly DM. “Any movement at all is exercise”: A focused ethnography of rural community-dwelling older adults’ perceptions and experiences of exercise as self-care. Physiotherapy Canada. 2013; 65(4):333–341. https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc.2012-31.

19. Cho MO. A comparative ethnography on health belief of aged between urban and rural residents. Journal of Qualitative Re- search. 2011; 12(2):100–114. https://doi.org/10.22284/qr.2011.12.2.100.

20. McEwen M, Wills EM. Margaret Newman: Health as expanding consciousness. McEwen M, Wills EM, editors. Theoretical Basis for Nursing. 4th Engl. Ed.Koh CK, translator. Seoul: Soomoonsa;c2016. p. 245–250.

21. Spradley JP. Participant observation. 1st Engl. Ed.Shin JY, translator. Melbourne: Cengage Learning;c2009. p. 48–212.

22. Meadow LM, Morse JM. Constructing evidence within the qualitative project. Morse JM, Swanson JM, Kuzel AJ, editors. The Nature of Evidence in Qualitative Inquiry. Thousand Oak (CA): Sage;2001. p. 187–200.

23. Reichstadt J, Sengupta G, Depp CA, Palinkas LA, Jeste DV. Older adults’ perspectives on successful aging: Qualitative interviews. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2010; 18(7):567–575. https://doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181e040bb.

24. Yang JH, Yang BS. Alternative view of health behavior: The experience of older Korean women. Qualitative Health Research. 2011; 21(3):324–332. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732310379238.

25. Ihle A, Jopp DS, Oris M, Fagot D, Kliegel M. Investigating discontinuity of age relations in cognitive functioning, general health status, activity participation, and life satisfaction between young-old and old-old age. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2016; 13(11):E1092. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13111092.

26. Lee MS, Kim YJ. Good death recognized by the elderly. The Journal of the Korea Contents Association. 2013; 13(6):283–299. https://doi.org/10.5392/JKCA.2013.13.06.283.

27. Park YR, Park KS. Social support network and welfare of the elderly in Korea: Research trends and future tasks. Journal of Welfare for the Aged. 2013; 60:323–352.

28. Lee SS. A study on the time usage of the retired elderly. Korean Journal of Human Ecology. 2011; 20(2):311–325. https://doi.org/10.5934/KJHE.2011.20.2.311.

29. Cho MO. Aging and temporality of aged in a clan. Korean Journal of Adult Nursing. 2008; 20(2):95–110.

30. Cho MO, Yim HS. Aging and proxemics in a Korean clan. Journal of Qualitative Research. 2017; 18(2):160–179. https://doi.org/10.22284/qr.2017.18.2.160.